At our first luncheon meeting in after the summer break, held on Tuesday 28 August, we will have a distinguished guest speaker, the Foreign Minister of Finland, Mr. Ilkka Kanerva. Minister Kanerva is in Japan for the Athletics World Championships held in Osaka (Aug 25 - Sep 2) as a Council Member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Minister Kanerva will speak about current challenges facing the Finnish society.

He will have discussions at the Foreign Ministry and meet also some leading Japanese parliamentarians. Minister Kanerva will speak about current challenges facing the Finnish society.

Note that we start the luncheon this time at 13:00.

Details:

Date & Time:	Tuesday 28 August, 13.00-15.00 (NOTE TIME)
Venue:	Hotel Okura, South Wing 12F, Kensington Terrace MAP
Cost:	7,000 yen for members, non-members 8,000 yen
Registration:	by Friday 24 August

Profile of Minister Kanerva (main) Date and place of birth: 28 January 1948, Lokalahti Place of residence: Turku Master of Social Sciences, Member of Parliament (since 1975 - National Coalition Party) Minister for Foreign Affairs, 19 April 2007 to present Minister of Labour, from 26 April 1991 to 13 April 1995 Minister at the Ministry of Finance, from 26 April 1991 to 13 April 1995 Minister of Transport and Communications, from 28 August 1990 to 26 April 1991 Minister at the Ministry of Finance, from 3 February 1989 to 26 April 1991 Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, from 30 April 1987 to 28 August 1990 Finnish Olympic Committee, Vice Chair, 1993 to present International Association of Athletics Federations, Council Member 2003 to present

If you would like attend, and have not yet registered, please click link at right.

Participants (if you want to check if you are registered)

 REGISTRATION 

JMEC is a program designed to foster the development of foreign business in Japan while strengthening the skills of young business executives through a business plan competition. The program brings together highly-motivated participants willing to challenge themselves with companies who want to enter or expand into the Japanese market. JMEC 14, the next program year, is scheduled to begin in November of 2007, with participant applications due on October 26th. (Project Client applications are due on November 23.)

Information sessions are scheduled for:

Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 - 9:00pm

Thursday, September 27, 7:30 - 9:00pm

Tuesday, October 16, 7:30 - 9:00pm

All sessions will take place at Temple University, Mita Hall, Room 503. Anybody can attend, but registration is required. Registrations can be made at http://www.jmec.gr.jp/brochure/index.html.

While information sessions are primarily designed for interested participants, potential project clients (companies) are welcome to attend. Interested companies may also contact info@jmec.gr.jp for more information about the JMEC program.

For more about JMEC. click link at right.

 JMEC WEB SITE 

News from Finland

Nokia's Q2 mobile phone market share up at 37 pct

Finnish mobile telecommunications giant Nokia shifted some 100 million mobile phones in the second quarter, yielding a global market share of just under 37 per cent, up from about 34 per cent in the year-ago period, market research company Gartner said Thursday.

US rival Motorola trailed the market leader with 14.6 per cent, down from 21.9 per cent in April-June last year.

South Korea's Samsung held 13.4 per cent and was followed by Sony Ericsson with nine per cent and LG with 6.8 per cent of the market.

 MORE BIZNEWS 

Grins of the week

Great eyesight

An Englishman went to Spain on a fishing trip. He hired a Spanish guide to help him find the best fishing spots. Since the Englishman was learning Spanish, he asked the guide to speak to him in Spanish and to correct any mistakes of usage. They were hiking on a mountain trail when a very large, purple and blue fly crossed their path. The Englishmen pointed at the insect with his fishing rod, and said, "Mira el mosca!" The guide, sensing a teaching opportunity, replied, "No, senor, 'la mosca'... es feminina."

The Englishman looked at him, then back at the fly, and then said, "Good heavens... you must have incredibly good eyesight."