State Minister Ino and Vice-Minister for International Affairs Matsuo Visit the Kingdom of Belgium to Attend the Japan-EU Business and Industrial Week Events, including the Japan-EU Business Round Table

(1) Second Public-private Meeting of the Japan-EU Bioeconomy Working Group

On Wednesday, April 15, State Minister Ino attended the second public-private meeting of the Japan-EU Bioeconomy Working Group, which was held based on the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance. 

This meeting was attended by bioeconomy-related government agencies, industry associations and companies. Participants from Japan and the EU exchanged information on their respective bioeconomy strategies and discussed measures to promote bioindustry, fostering joint R&D and industrial collaboration between Japan and the EU.

State Minister Ino delivered an opening speech at the public-private session and emphasized the importance of enhancing Japan-EU collaboration to promote bioindustry as a next-generation industrial pillar. This event was held with support from Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), which is a public-private partnership organization based in the EU. From Japanese industry circles, seven companies, specifically, Oji Holdings, Kaneka, Teijin Frontier, bitBiome, Fermelanta, miibio, and Logomix participated in the event.

(2) Twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Japan-EU Business Round Table (BRT)

On Thursday, April 16, State Minister Ino attended the annual meeting of the EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT), which was held with the participation of both Japan’s and the EU’s industry circles. The meeting attracted participants from about 40 Japanese and EU companies and other organizations engaged in a range of industrial fields, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii Iwao, Executive Advisor Endo Nobuhiro, NEC Corporation (BRT chair on the Japanese side), and Representative Director & President Jeremy Grossas, Merck Biopharma, Japan (BRT acting chair on the EU side). At this in-person meeting, they proactively discussed issues concerning global trade, economic security, enhancement of supply chain resilience, and challenges to be met by Japan and the EU for the enhancement of their respective industrial competitiveness.

State Minister Ino delivered a keynote speech at the beginning of the meeting. Also, in the panel discussion on global trade, he emphasized the importance of maintaining rules-based free and fair international economic order and pointed out the need for Japan and the EU to work together in resolving issues toward the enhancement of their industrial competitiveness.

Mr. Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at METI, attended the panel discussion on economic security. He introduced the measures implemented by Japan in the field and insisted on the need for Japan and EU to collaborate going forward.

(3) EU-Japan High-Level Business Networking Reception

On Thursday, April 16, a networking reception was held jointly by the Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, with the participation of about 160 people from the public and private organizations participating in the Japan-EU Business and Industrial Week. State Minister Ino delivered an opening speech and expressed his expectations for the further enhancement of cooperation between Japan’s and the EU’s industry circles.

(4) First meeting of the Japan-EU Defence Industry Dialogue

On Friday, April 17, State Minister Ino attended the first meeting of the Japan-EU Defence Industry Dialogue on behalf of the Government of Japan. This meeting was jointly held by representatives from Japan’s and the EU’s industry circles, as mentioned by the leaders of Japan and the EU at the Japan-EU summit held last July.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, other executives of the European Commission, representatives of the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC) and the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), which were co-chairs of the event, and by delegates from Japan’s and the EU’s industry circles. In his guest speech, State Minister Ino emphasized the importance of promoting Japan-EU cooperation in the defence industry. Also, companies from Japan and the EU introduced the measures that they are implementing to utilize advanced and dual-use technologies in the defence industry and discussed how to expand mutual cooperation going forward.

(5) Meeting with Mr. Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space

On Friday, April 17, State Minister Ino had a meeting with Mr. Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space.

At the meeting, State Minister Ino addressed the discussion held by the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy and shared the fact that the Government of Japan is reinforcing the defence production and technological base as an integral part of defence capability. Then, the two concurred to promote Japan-EU cooperation in the defence industry. Also, they reaffirmed that the Government of Japan and the European Commission will continue to support the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue.

Finally, as the platform to foster Japan-EU cooperation in the defence industry, including cooperation for advanced and dual-use technologies, they welcomed the launch of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue and delivered a joint statement on ongoing cooperation in the defence industry.

• Joint Press Statement 17 April 2026: EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue (April 17, 2026)

(6) Japan-EU Industrial Policy Dialogue

On Friday, April 17, the Japan-EU Industrial Policy Dialogue was held, co-chaired by Mr. Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at METI, and Ms. Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).

Participants in the event confirmed the fact that there is much room for Japan and the EU to foster collaboration amid the increasingly uncertain international economic situation. Regarding critical minerals, batteries, bioindustry, defence, and space on which a public-private dialogue would be held on Tuesday, April 21, they concurred to continue fostering collaboration for economic security and the enhancement of industrial competitiveness.

At the public-private session held for Japanese and EU companies in the private sector, participants expressed expectations and made requests for the further expansion of business by Japanese and EU companies through public-private dialogues. They also committed to continue advancing discussions to enhance industrial cooperation between Japan and the EU.

Divisions in Charge

• For the visit and (2), (3) and (6):

  Europe Division, Trade Policy Bureau

• For (1)

  Bio-Industry Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group

• For (4) and (5):

  Aerospace and Defense Industry Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau