Update:March 5, 2014

ICETT Visited by Polish Local Governments’ Study Mission

On June 4 (Tues.), ICETT was visited by a study mission from Polish local governments. The Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency under the direct control of the Polish Ministry of Economy took the initiative in forming this 15-member group, which included experts in export, mayors, officials of local governments and special economic zones from five provinces in eastern Poland, as well as officials of the Polish Embassy in Japan and the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency.

The aim of the visiting group was to invite Japanese businesses to the eastern part of Poland and to learn useful knowledge for the development of this region at events such as an investment seminar in Nagoya, or while inspecting various projects, implemented by Japanese local governments and companies. Foreign investment in the eastern region is smaller than in the western region and economic development there is behind the western part of the country. So, with financial assistance by the European Union, publicity activities are being held in Asia to promote the eastern part of Poland.

ICETT was chosen as one of the organizations to visit because of growing interest in renewable energy and environmental technology in Poland. Other visits were to manufacturers in leading-edge industries and the Mie Prefectural Government to learn about the Smart Island Strategy.

　

Following greetings from Executive Director Kiyoshi Minami, a summary of ICETT and its programs were explained to the Polish visitors.

　

Using DVD images, ICETT explained the history of the Yokkaichi pollution and efforts to overcome the pollution issues, showed PowerPoint slides to present the results of training courses and Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) programs, and also referred to ICETT’s involvement with Poland through ICETT’s past programs. When slides describing Polish participants in ICETT programs were shown to the visitors, the head of this study mission, who is also Deputy Director of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, mentioned having taken a training course at ICETT in the 1990s.　

(Head of the study mission, also Deputy Director of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency) 

　

As for its programs, ICETT presented industries of the Chubu central region of Japan and data from surveys ICETT had conducted in the previous fiscal year regarding environmental business. ICETT also explained recent trends in environmental business and growing demand for overseas business operations among the industries of the Chubu region. These explanations included references to Polish participants who visited ICETT in the past and the City of Kielce, located in southeastern Poland. In response, there were many questions and comments from the members of the visiting group, which created a friendly exchange of opinions and views.

　

It is highly expected that the members of this Polish group, taking full advantage of this visit to Japan, will collect useful information for the economic development of the five provinces in eastern Poland, while sending effective information back to Japan that might invite investments from Japanese companies, leading to shared benefits with these businesses.