eBusiness Focus Japan

The eBusiness Focus Japan 2024 is a B2B activity designed to help participating companies find an importer or distributor in the Japanese market. 

Once the call closes, Prodeca, together with its trade office in the market, will make an initial selection of the companies and products that best match Japanese market demand. 

Next, consultancy work will be carried out, culminating in a personalised meeting schedule for each of the registered companies.

Finally, the selected participating Catalan companies will hold virtual meetings with the Japanese buyers, who must have previously received the physical samples of the products.

ORGANISATION OF THE MEETINGS

The meetings between the Catalan companies and the potential buyers will be held in virtual format. Beforehand, you must have sent them the product samples, so that each potential buyer has them to hand at the time of the meeting. 

Each participating company must cover the cost of sending the samples , but if desired, Prodeca can advise on arranging and coordinating their shipment to the buyers' offices.

Each participating Catalan company will receive a schedule of between one and three meetings with Japanese buyers interested in its products. The meetings will be held under the following conditions: 

• Time: From 15:00 to 18:00 (Japan) / From 7:00 to 10:00 (Catalonia).
• Duration: 60 minutes per meeting. 
• Language: English or Japanese, depending on the buyer's preference. An interpreter may be needed at some meetings, a service that is never covered by Prodeca. Where needed, each company must cover it (the trade office in the market can help hire the interpreter).

(Additional meetings may be scheduled depending on the buyers' interest.)

The platform used for the meetings may vary according to each buyer's preferences. A few minutes before the meeting, a connection test will be run between the Catalan company, Prodeca and the trade office in the market to check everything works. Likewise, only where necessary, both the trade office in the market and Prodeca can provide support during the meeting and the subsequent communication.  

If the participating Catalan company fails to attend the meeting with the buyer, Prodeca does not guarantee that it will be rescheduled. If it is the buyer who is unable to attend, a second date for the meeting will be proposed.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

Producers with previous experience of exporting to third countries, in the following categories, may take part in this activity:

• Preserves of all kinds
• Confectionery, chocolate and derivatives
• Biscuits
• Snacks of all kinds
• Wine or cava*

Brands already established in the market will not be accepted, and traditional, original products will be given priority. 

Companies from other sectors interested in registering for the activity may send an email to mariapla@gencat.cat, so that its feasibility can be assessed depending on the buyers' interest. 

The organisers reserve the right of admission based on suitability criteria. Up to 5 food companies and up to 5 wine or cava companies will be accepted. The number of companies from the same sector that are direct competitors will also be limited to two.

*Selection criteria for wine or cava companies:

• A maximum of two companies with products carrying the same origin or territorial designation (DO, etc.)
• Awards or distinctions received will be taken into account
• Organic products will be favourably considered
• Products made with local/native grape varieties will be favourably considered
• Products from small or little-known designations of origin will be favourably considered
• Products from DOQ Priorat will be favourably considered
• Wineries with a strong story and history will be favourably considered
• Companies engaged exclusively in wine trading will not be accepted, unless they represent a producer: in that case, the name listed as exhibitor will be that of the producer.

Once Prodeca receives the interested company's registration, it will provide a form that must be completed and returned, together with a product catalogue, to the email mariapla@gencat.cat (both documents in English).

PLANNED TIMETABLE

The indicative schedule for eBusiness Focus Japan 2024 is as follows: 

• COMPANY REGISTRATION AND RECEIPT OF FORMS AND CATALOGUES: Until 31 May 2024
• CONFIRMATION OF COMPANY SELECTION AND INTERVIEW WITH THE PRODECA OFFICE IN JAPAN: 3 to 14 June 2024
• SENDING OF SAMPLES: June to September, depending on each company's final schedule
• HOLDING OF THE MEETINGS: 1 July to 13 September 2024

REGISTRATION COST

• Participation cost per company (meetings, subsequent follow-up): €375 + 21% VAT = €453.75

A company will be considered admitted once it has submitted the duly completed participation application, paid the participation fee and been selected, in that order.

Once admitted, a company that withdraws loses 100% of the amount paid. Prodeca reserves the right to assess the reasons the company gives for cancelling its participation and to refund a percentage of the amount paid.

Prodeca reserves the right to select companies according to criteria of sectoral fit and product suitability for the market. Should demand exceed the places available, Prodeca will apply the order of arrival of applications and corresponding payments.

Prodeca will refund the amount paid to companies that are not ultimately selected. 

TRANSPORT OF SAMPLES

Prodeca will not cover the cost of transporting samples , but if a company needs it, Prodeca can advise on arranging and coordinating their shipment to the buyers' offices.