ASEAN-Japan Business and Local Government Collaboration Forum

■Introduction:

The ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit serves as a vital platform to connect emerging business leaders from ASEAN and Japan, addressing pressing social challenges and fostering innovation for a sustainable future. ASEAN, recognized as a global growth center, faces various social issues, including inequalities, while Japan grapples with challenges such as an aging population but leverages its wealth of experience and assets from decades of development. Against this backdrop, the summit aims to cultivate meaningful connections among next-generation business leaders who are poised to drive transformative change. The summit culminated on 20th December 2024, with impactful pitch sessions and a panel discussion, showcasing innovative ideas and fostering dialogue among leaders.

■Session Information:

• Session Name: ASEAN-Japan Business and Local Government Collaboration Forum

• Place: ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit 2024, International Conference Center Kyoto,  Annex Hall B

• Date: 20th December 2024

■Moderator:

• Misato Nagakawa

  • Deputy Director / Wake Up Japan.

  • Japan

■Speakers:

• Ryusei Kurata

  • CTO PoliPoli

  • Japan

• Ferro Ferizka Aryananda

  • Executive Director, Pijar Foundation

  • Indonesia 

• Fuminobu Eguchi

  • Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Innovation Promotion Team, Innovation Environment Management

  • Japan

• Akihiro Mori

  • Aichi Prefectural Government, Economy and Industry Bureau, Office for International Collaboration Promotion, International Collaboration Group

  • Japan

• Kiyoko Hashiba

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Office for Startup and Global Financial City Strategy, Strategy Promotion Division, Director for Global Promotion

  • Japan

• Kiyo Takahashi

  • City of Kyoto, Industry and Tourism Bureau, Industrial Innovation Promotion Office

  • Japan

• Machi Takahashi

  • Stroly Inc, CEO

  • Japan

• Ryo Iwamoto

  • TeaRoom CEO

  • Japan

• Theodoric Chew

  • Intellect CEO

  • Singapore

■Session:

The ASEAN-Japan Business and Local Government Collaboration Forum served as a platform to foster connections between local governments, startups, and global innovators, highlighting initiatives to drive innovation, sustainability, and cross-regional collaboration. Moderated by Misato Nagakawa, Deputy Director at Wake Up Japan, the session featured an array of influential speakers representing Japan, ASEAN countries, and various sectors.

■Opening Remarks and Introduction to PoliPoli Initiatives

Ryusei Kurata, CTO of PoliPoli, opened the session by outlining the organization's innovative efforts in fostering co-creation between governments and citizens. Through initiatives like social impact bonds, citizen questionnaires, and policy funds, PoliPoli empowers local governments to address pressing societal issues. Ryusei also introduced the Future Gen for Change project in collaboration with Indonesia’s Pijar Foundation, designed to pilot solutions for social challenges in Southeast Asia.

Ferro Ferizka Aryananda, Executive Director of Pijar Foundation, elaborated on Indonesia's challenges, including stunting, flooding, and food insecurity. She emphasized the scalability of solutions developed through this collaboration, envisioning their application in other emerging economies like the Philippines and Brazil.

■Spotlight on Prefectural Initiatives in Japan

Hiroshima Prefecture: Innovation and Global Expansion

Fuminobu Eguchi, from Hiroshima’s Innovation Promotion Team, introduced the Unicorn10 Project, aimed at cultivating ten unicorn startups in the prefecture over the next decade. The initiative includes programs like the Asia Co-Creation Program, which connects Hiroshima-based startups with ASEAN partners. Companies like PtBio and Toromuso showcased successful expansions into Malaysia and Vietnam, highlighting the region's potential for collaborative growth.

■Aichi Prefecture: Manufacturing and Startup Ecosystem

Akihiro Mori, representing Aichi Prefecture, shared the region's strategic focus on startups amidst its transformation in the automotive industry. He highlighted Station AI, a world-class startup support facility fostering open innovation between corporates and startups. Aichi’s partnerships with global entities, such as NUS in Singapore, demonstrated its commitment to international collaboration.

■Tokyo Metropolitan Government: A Global Innovation Hub

Kiyoko Hashiba, Director for Global Promotion, detailed Tokyo’s ambitious goals under its "10 by 10 by 10" innovation vision, aiming to significantly increase startups, unicorns, and public-private collaborations by 2027. She introduced SushiTech Tokyo, an annual global innovation event, and the Tokyo Innovation Base, a hub for fostering collaboration within Tokyo’s startup ecosystem. Kiyoko underscored Tokyo’s accessibility and support for international startups, encouraging ASEAN participants to explore opportunities in Japan’s capital.

■Kyoto City: Cultural Innovation and Global Outreach

Kiyo Takahashi highlighted Kyoto’s inbound and outbound efforts, including tailored tech tours and international collaborations. Partnering with Stroly Inc., a Kyoto-based startup, the city showcased the use of illustrated maps to enhance tourism and sustainable urban development. Machi Takahashi, Stroly’s CEO, presented projects like the Arashiyama navigation initiative, which balances visitor flow and local satisfaction.

Perspectives from Young Entrepreneurs

Ryo Iwamoto, CEO of TeaRoom, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural assets through sustainable business models. His efforts in exporting Japanese tea and its cultural heritage highlighted the synergy between tradition and innovation.

Theodoric Chew, CEO of Intellect, shared his journey of expanding a mental health tech company into Japan. He praised the support from local governments and emphasized the need for more guidance on navigating regional differences for non-local startups.

■Conclusion

Moderator Misato Nagakawa closed the session by emphasizing the importance of cross-generational, cross-sector, and cross-country collaboration in driving innovation and addressing global challenges. The forum successfully highlighted the diverse initiatives across Japan’s prefectures and provided a roadmap for ASEAN participants to engage with these ecosystems.

The session concluded with a call to action: to continue building partnerships that transcend borders and create lasting impact.

■Join the Movement

The ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit is not just an event but a call to action for fostering innovation, collaboration, and transformative solutions to shared challenges. As we continue to build a stronger, more connected future, we invite businesses, organizations, and individuals to join us in driving impactful change across ASEAN and Japan. To explore collaboration opportunities or to become part of this dynamic initiative, please contact PoliPoli’s secretariat at:

asean-japan-business-leaders-summit@polipoli.io

Together, let’s shape a future of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.