Online Event NET ZERO Leaders Summit (Japan Business Conference 2021) Will Be Held to Promote Japan’s Investment Environment and Efforts toward Net Zero

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will hold an online event, “NET ZERO Leaders Summit (Japan Business Conference 2021)” starting on July 28 (Wed.), to promote Japan’s efforts toward achieving net zero and the attractiveness of its investment environment.
The main program will consist of panel discussions that will bring together 15 global leaders to talk about the latest trends regarding net zero.
At the virtual venue, 54 Japanese companies and local governments will exhibit their outstanding technologies and services to demonstrate the attractiveness of Japan’s investment environment.

1. Background and outline
In October 2020, Prime Minister Suga announced the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and METI led the work to formulate a “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050.” The strategy is to mobilize all policy tools, including international cooperation, in order to attract environmental investment from all around the world—investment said to be worth as much as 3,000 trillion yen. In June 2021, the Japanese government set a new goal of “doubling the outstanding balance of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan to 80 trillion yen by 2030,” and efforts toward achieving this have also become important.
Against this background, METI and JETRO will hold an online event titled “NET ZERO Leaders Summit (Japan Business Conference 2021)” starting on July 28 in order to collect the world’s knowledge toward the global challenge of achieving net zero, and promote Japan’s attractive investment environment with a focus on international collaboration and cooperation with Japan.

2. “NET ZERO Leaders Summit” (Japan Business Conference 2021)
The main program of the event will include three panel discussions with 15 CEOs and leading figures from major global companies and organizations around the world, keynote speeches by Mr. TOKURA Masakazu, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation, and video messages from Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide and Mr. KAJIYAMA Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The participants will talk about world-leading initiatives and future visions with the theme of achieving net zero, bringing to the discussions diverse perspectives based on their regions, business fields, and so on.

In addition, an exhibition “Japan Technology Showcase” will be held in a virtual venue. There, a total of 54 Japanese companies and local governments will set up PR booths to present their outstanding technologies and services. Visitors will be able to use avatars to communicate in real time with representatives from the exhibiting organizations.

3. Outline of the NET ZERO Leaders Summit (Japan Business Conference 2021)
Organizers: METI, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Date: Held online starting on July 28, 2021 (Wed.)
Note: Advance registration is required: URL (Participation is free)
Details:
・Main program by global leaders (Two days: July 28 (Wed.) and 29 (Thu.))
Panel discussions, etc. where world-leading figures discuss the trends regarding net zero
・Promoting Japan’s attractiveness at company booths(July 28 (Wed.)-September 10 (Fri.))
Fifty-four Japanese companies and local governments will exhibit their outstanding technologies and services in PR booths within a virtual venue
・Communication through avatars, etc. July 28 (Wed.)-September 10 (Fri.)
Participants will be able to use avatars to communicate with each other and exhibitors in real time
Note: The description is current as of July 20, 2021. Details may change.
4. Outline of the main program
Date: Exclusive streaming of a total of three sessions over two days, on July 28 (Wed.) and 29 (Thu.), 2021
Note: Each session will be about 3 hours long.
Format: Online