The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka), in cooperation with the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Osaka Office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), held the 17th Kansai Korea–Japan Economic Forum at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, at Hotel New Otani Osaka.
※ The Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry is one of the nine regional bureaus of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and serves as a comprehensive contact point for economic and industrial policies in the Kinki (Kansai) region.
The Kansai Korea–Japan Economic Forum has been held annually since 2008 under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka, with the aim of promoting business exchanges between Korea and Japan in the Kansai region. This year’s forum, themed “Korea–Japan Startup Cooperation,” brought together approximately 150 participants, including representatives from the two governments, local governments, and business communities, such as startups, to lay the groundwork for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Kim Hee-sang, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the significance and importance of holding the forum in the Kansai region, where exchanges and cooperation with Korea are particularly active. He welcomed the focus on startup cooperation, which is expected to shape the future of the two economies, and expressed his expectation that Korea–Japan startup collaboration would generate strong synergies.
In particular, marking the meaningful occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, Deputy Minister Kim noted that the leaders of the two countries agreed during their summit last month to strengthen cooperation in future industries and emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to build a forward-looking bilateral relationship. He expressed optimism that the forum, where stakeholders from both countries jointly explored directions for startup and future industry cooperation, exemplified the future-oriented nature of Korea–Japan relations.
Nobutani Kazushige, Director-General of the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Torii Shingo, Chairman of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivered opening and congratulatory remarks, respectively. They underscored that mutual understanding and cooperation between Korea and Japan are indispensable for the development of both countries amid a complex international environment. They positively assessed the significance of the recent series of leaders’ meetings, noting President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Japan last month as his first bilateral diplomatic engagement and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s visit to Busan on the day of the forum, and described them as highly meaningful for the future-oriented development of bilateral relations. They also recalled that Japan’s cultural development and the diffusion of new technologies in the past began in the Kansai region based on cooperation with Korea, and expressed their commitment to actively promoting economic exchanges between Korea and the Kansai region.
During the forum, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency presented the Korean government’s policies for fostering an innovation ecosystem, including the nurturing of deep-tech startups, open innovation between large enterprises and startups, and the globalization of the startup ecosystem, as well as initiatives such as the K-Startup Centers. The Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry emphasized the importance of startups in addressing global challenges and driving economic growth, and introduced the Kansai region’s phased startup support policies and achievements to date under Japan’s Five-Year Startup Development Plan, announced in November 2022 following the declaration of 2022 as the inaugural year for startup creation.
This was followed by business presentations by 14 startups from Korea and Japan, as well as networking and consultation sessions that provided participants with opportunities for exchange.
※ (Korea) Eight companies: Chabot Mobility (mobility platform), Doctor Now (telemedicine platform), EverEx (musculoskeletal rehabilitation), SMT (smart water quality management), Raven Materials (materials/coatings), Medicaretech (medical devices – endoscopy), Olive Healthcare (medical devices – diagnostics), and Shopl & Company (on-site operations DX)
※ (Japan) Six companies: Lean on Me (content e-learning), Loss Zero (food loss reduction, circular economy), Atto (medical devices – microscopy), Hipep (medical device systems), HACARUS (AI for field support), and FutuPa (AI services for manufacturing)
The forum is evaluated as having served as a meaningful opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation with the Kansai region by connecting Korea’s innovation capabilities with the region’s strengths in bio, AI, and environmental sectors, at a time when Korea and Japan are advancing toward a future-oriented cooperative relationship in the year marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. It also contributed to promoting startup cooperation between the two countries, expanding the scope of activities for Korean companies, and delivering tangible benefits to the daily lives of the people.
Going forward, the Korean government will continue to actively support opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between companies, thereby solidifying the foundation for future-oriented Korea–Japan economic cooperation, while pursuing economic diplomacy that not only fosters the shared growth of companies in both countries but also delivers tangible benefits to local communities and citizens in their daily lives.