UNIDO ITPO Japan

Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Tokyo

General information

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo was founded in 1981 based on an agreement between UNIDO and the Government of Japan. The objectives of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo are:

  1. To accelerate the inflow of foreign direct investment from Japan to developing countries and economies in transition.
  2. To introduce new investment opportunities to Japanese enterprises and institutions through promotion activities.
  3. To provide consultation both to potential Japanese investors and to project sponsors in recipient countries.
  4. To promote technology transfer with the aim of developing small and medium enterprises, protecting the environment and making state of the art technologies accessible.

For more details please check: www.unido.or.jp (ITPO Tokyo country homepage)

Strategy

Besides conventional investment promotion programmes, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo is increasingly focusing on environment related technologies, such as water, environment management, 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), renewable energies, as well as industrial technologies. Delegates are sought not only for investment promotion, but also for environment technology transfer. As far as regional coverage is concerned, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo continues to cover all developing countries in the world; however programmes addressing LDCs, especially in Africa, are also highlighted in line with targets of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

Services
  • Delegate Programme

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo invites investment/technology promotion officials (delegates) from developing countries for a short-term stay (average 3 weeks) in Japan with an aim to promote the delegate's country in Japan and to realize business partnerships between Japan and the recipient country.

Since 1984, 180 delegates have been invited to Japan. In 2008, 10 delegates (including delegates to APPS 2008, an automotive parts related exhibition), visited Japan. During the period, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo registered 49 projects under promotion, out of which 2 projects are concluded, and 13 projects are under active negotiation. For more information on the "delegate programme" please contact ITPO Tokyo

  • Technology Transfer

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo promotes awareness raising activities and projects on mid to low-tech technologies, in order to assist LDCs with sustainable development:

  1. Environmentally sound technologies, focusing on agro-technologies, waste management, and alternative energy, water technologies (such as biofuel; banana fiber; auto-parts recycling; POPs)
  2. Conventional manufacturing technologies (such as automotive parts production related)
  3. Assistance to develop technical cooperation projects in developing countries;
  4. Coordination with UNIDO HQ programmes, to disseminate information to the Japanese private and public sectors.
  • Promotional Events
    (Fora, Seminars, Workshops, COMFAR Promotion, etc.)

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo organizes, supports, ad takes part in series of events each year in order to promote specific countries, themes, and to appeal to the general public on UNIDO's role in promoting sustainable development. Some of the events, such as seminars, feature the participation of high level government representatives, including presidents and ministers, and also our delegates. In a concise 2-3 hour format, the events allow us to disseminate the latest information about countries, specific sectors, and other topics of interest to the Japanese business community, providing countries with an important tool for investment promotion in Japan. COMFAR promotion is also undertaken by targeting Japanese users.

In addition, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo also maintains brochures, annual reports in English (Annual Report 2008, pdf, 49mb), 4-monthly newsletters in Japanese to communicate its activities to the business and general public in Japan and overseas. A database of more than 3000 registered contacts is available for this purpose.

  • Training and Capacity Building

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo undertakes group training and capacity building in the form of study tours, lectures, and company visits on investment and technology promotion, and environmental management. The activities are carried out in collaboration with UNIDO HQ, JICA, AOTS, embassies of recipient countries in Tokyo, etc.