02.02.2021

 Highlighting collaboration between EA.F and EA.NRW

On Tuesday, January 26, a webinar, EU-Japan Regional Cooperation Good Practices was hosted by the Council for Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), joined by Fukushima Prefecture and EnergyAgency. FUKUSHIMA as panelists.

The theme was “Evolving partnerships for Renewable Energies and Regional Revitalization”. This webinar is regularly hosted by CLAIR with an aim to promote industrial collaboration between regions in Japan and Europe.

The webinar started with remarks by a moderator, Dr. Virginie Fermaud, Coordinator of the EU-Japan Regional Cooperation Helpdesk, followed by a greeting message from Dr. Philippe de Taxis du Poet, Managing Director – EU Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, Tokyo & Minister Counsellor – Delegation of the European Union to Japan. From Fukushima side, Director of the Business Creation Division, Fukushima Prefectural Government, Mr. Horie Naohiro made a presentation about revitalization progress of Fukushima over the past 9 years and economic exchange with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (NRW). In his presentation, Director Horie mentioned that economic exchange was boosted ever since leaders of both regions have signed MoU.

Following the presentation, Managing Director Hattori of EA.F presented track record of mutual exchange and matchmakings between companies promoted through national and international trade fairs, seminars and workshops in which EA.F (operative platform of Fukushima Prefecture) and EnergieAgentur.NRW (operative platform) jointly participated.

Next to Managing Director Hattori was Dr. Frank-Michael Baumann, Managing Director of the EnergieAgentur.NRW. He talked about advancement of renewable energy in the State of NRW, Germany and underlined that advance technologies and growth of industrial clusters to this date brought about today’s development in renewable energy industry. Further, he stressed to focus on realization of Hydrogen Society through European Green Deal project.

Lastly, Mr. Go Theisen, Project Director, International Affairs, City of Essen, Economic Development Agency made a presentation. He worked as a Coordinator for International Business at the Business Creation Division, Fukushima Prefectural Government in the past, and played a leading role for signing of MoU between Koriyama City and City of Essen which followed the signing of MoU between Fukushima Prefecture and State of NRW.

Today’s seminar highlighted cooperative relations between Germany where Green Strategy has developed and Fukushima where innovation of technology is developing in order to produce energy covering 100% of demand with renewable energy by 2040. The seminar attracted much attention gathering about 100 viewers.