Young Executive Stay (YES) Program VIII.
Commercial export mission to Japan: June 3-June 10, 2012

The YES program is a commercial export project under the auspices of His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium. It aims to train young executives from Belgium and Luxembourg in successful Japanese business practices, at moderate costs, and in a short amount of time. For this purpose, in 2012, the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BLCCJ), the Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber of Commerce in Belgium (BJA) and the Chambre de Commerce de Luxembourg will organize a one-week training program in Japan, beginning with two briefing sessions in Belgium. The training in Japan will consist of 1 day of group studies (lectures and company visits) and the remaining days of introducing each participant to the potential customers in his business area. The YES program enjoys the support of the Embassies of Belgium and Luxembourg in Japan and of the representatives of the three Belgian Regions.

• Young Executive Stay (YES) Program VIII and you
• Program in Belgium: Seminars and Briefing Sessions
• Program in Japan: Group Studies and business meetings
• A few important points
• When does the yes program take place?
• Financial contribution from each participant
• How to apply for the yes program?
• Contact
• Past YES Program

Young Executive Stay (YES) Program and you
The YES program aims to train young executives from Belgium and Luxembourg in successful Japanese business practices, at moderate costs, and in a short amount of time. For this purpose, in 2012, the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BLCCJ), the Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber of Commerce in Belgium (BJA) and the Chambre de Commerce de Luxembourg will organize a one-week training program in Japan, beginning with two briefing sessions in Belgium. The training in Japan will consist of 1 day of group studies (lectures and company visits) and the remaining days of introducing each participant to the potential customers in his business area.

You are a young executive working for a small or medium-sized company in Belgium or Luxembourg. Your company is interested in the Japanese market. You do not want to be just one of the participants in a trade mission, but rather prefer to have a personalized hands-on program, which gives you direct contact with your potential customers and partners in Japan.



Program in Belgium: Seminars and Briefing Sessions
Seminars covering items concerning export to Japan and Japanese business culture are being held in 2012.
Intensive preparatory briefing sessions will be held for the selected YES participants in Belgium with speakers and experts on various topics concerning export to Japan in February and April/May 2012.

Program in Japan: Group Studies and business meetings
The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan is committed to get real business prospects for each participant.

The Group Studies [the first day]
The seminars will cover different aspects of the business environment in Japan, including the recent evolution of the economy, types of enterprises, potential in different sectors, and general business practices as well as more specific aspects, such as commercial laws, trade barriers, shipping and distribution practices.

Introduction to the market: business meetings
Under guidance of a member of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan (the "business coach"), and with the help from students from Sophia University in Tokyo, each participant will have the opportunity to contact potential customers and organize business meetings.

Each YES program participant will work individually with a business coach, who will be selected from a company that is related to the participant's business, but not in direct competition.



A few important points
It is important to have some business experience before starting business in Japan. This will be an important point during the selection of the participants.

A good command of the English language is necessary for doing business in Japan.

Preparation work before the training is absolutely necessary. Some of this will be done during the one-day seminars, but participants are expected to prepare their trip carefully. Some ways to do this might be: market studies, preparing brochures in English or Japanese, preparing a practical distribution policy, having sales and technical support team in Belgium/Luxembourg, or having contacts directly from Belgium/Luxembourg.

Doing business in Japan is a rewarding long-term investment. The aim of a first contact with Japan is to discover for yourself and your company that Japan is indeed an immense market and meet potential customers who would like to see you again. Business deals might only come after a few visits, although in some instances former YES participants have returned home with contracts in their suitcases.



When does the yes program take place?
The one-week training program in Japan will take place June 3-June 10 2012. The students from Japan will visit the participants and their company one day in the two first weeks of April 2012 (tbd).
The program in Belgium consists of general seminars in 2012, and the separate briefing sessions for the selected YES participants will be held in Belgium in February and April/May 2012. Exact dates will be informed in due time.


Financial contribution from each participant
The YES program is at low cost to your company. The organizers will bear most of the direct costs of your trip to Japan, including your economy class airplane ticket, accommodation during the whole program, organization of seminars, Japanese language lessons, a reception at the Embassy where you can invite potential business contacts, and commercial support.

A token fee of 1,450 EUR to partially cover expenses should be paid to the BLCCJ upon confirmation of selection (foreseen beginning February 2012). This fee is non-reimbursable. Please note that other costs such as your personal out-of-pocket expenses, including food, entertainment, and domestic travel are to be borne by the participant.



How to apply for the YES program?

Coordinator for Belgium:
The Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber of Commerce, Mrs Anja Oto-Kellens
Oto-kellens@bja.be
T +32 (0)2 644 13 33
F +32 (0)2 644 23 60

Coordinator for Luxembourg:
The Luxembourg Chambre de Commerce, Mr. Jean-Claude Vesque
jean-claude.vesque@cc.lu
T +(352) 42 39 39 316
F + (352) 42 39 39 822

Deadline for applications is Wednesday 22 January, 2012. Together with your application letter, we will ask you to send the following documents in English and by electronic means only to info@bja.be :

• The application form (on-line application)
• A profile of your company
• Catalogues of the products/services you intend to promote in Japan
• A resume of the applicant
• Financial Statement of the company
• A tentative market study of the Japanese market
• Overview of your activity in Japan to present (if any)

The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BLCCJ)
Mr Bert Winderickx
Dai 10 Daitetsu Building 5F
23 Arakicho,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Japan
bert@blccj.or.jp | info@blccj.or.jp
www.blccj.or.jp

The Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg
7, rue Alcide de Gasperi
Luxembourg-Kirchberg
Luxembourg
tel +352 42 39 39 -316
fax +352 42 39 39 -822
jean-claude.vesque@cc.lu
www.cc.lu

Past YES IV Program
For a debriefing of the past YES IV Program, please visit:
http://www.bja.be/pdf/tf/tf_64.pdf (selected participants YES IV program)
http://www.bja.be/pdf/tf/tf_65.pdf (briefing sessions in Belgium)
http://www.bja.be/pdf/tf/tf_66.pdf (YES IV program in Japan)
http://www.bja.be/events_archive.php?year=2004 (picture archive of the YES related events)