Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan

FCCJ Luncheon Meeting 23 February 2005

Theme:
"Outokumpu and their Current Business in Japan - Worldwide Success through Cooperation"

Speaker: Mr. Hirokuni Yoshida, President, Outokumpu K.K.

RECAP

In his presentation, Mr. Yoshida explained about the developements of Outokumpu and the reasons for Outokumpu focusing on stainless steel, the fastest growing metal. The flield has gone through a rapid consolidation in Europe, in 1976 there where 20 stainless steel companies in Europe, today there are only four. The present Outokumpu Stainless consists of 7 of those companies in 1976.

The operations in Japan have gone through significant changes since the establishment of a representative office in 1984. Today Outokumpu K.K. employs 6 persons and handled about 12,000 tons of stainless ion 2004. Among the references in Japan, Mr. Yoshida listed the Sony Entertainment showroom in Minami-Aoyama and the Apple Computer showrooms in Tokyo (Ginza), Osaka and Nagoya, as well as the cooperation with Japanese companies for supplying stainless for Apple showrooms all over the world. Another example of cooperation with Japanese companies is the Stone Cutter Bridge under construction in Hong Kong..

For a summary of Mr. Yoshida's presentation, click here. (1.6 MB pdf file)

IMAGES FROM THE MEETING

The speaker, Hirokuni Yoshida starts his presentation.	At the top table, from left: Mr. Yoshida, Isao Nishimura, Yukio Sakurai, Yoshiko Fujioka, Tsunetada Matsudaira and Ambassador Eero Salovaara. Back to camera FCCJ President Mika Makinen
From left: Tsunetada Matsudaira, Ambassador Salovaara and Mika Makinen. Back to camera Isao Nishimura.	From left: Yoshinori Sano, Masaoki Fujita, Masahiro Kuwashima, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Hiroshi Namikawa. Back to camera Yoshimitsu Sano.
One of the guests, Mr. Timo Budow introduces himself...	... and the audience listens.
Mr. Yoshida replies to questions from the audience.	Tsunetada Matsudaira of the Japan-Finland Culture and Friendship Association promotes the new organization.