Just like everything in life - one step at a time

Japan is one of Finland’s growing trading partners. It is an attractive market and it offers numerous opportunities for the Finnish companies in a wide variety of sectors. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement will further increase our trade and growth opportunities.

However, Finnish companies face a variety of challenges when seeking to enter the Japanese market. The good news is that many of these challenges would be entirely avoidable. I have noticed that the most common mistakes are made due to lack of preparation and planning. No one goes into battle without understanding the battleground. It is important to identify the steps required to successfully enter the new market. We need a tailor-made Japan strategies with a long term view to business success.

To succeed in Japan is not only understanding and meeting the high expectations of the market. Cultural elements have a strong impact on the effectiveness of a business relationship. We have to understand Japanese business culture and different mentality of business people. I know too many cases where the Finnish management returns from Japan, celebrating success and soon it becomes clear that the relationship will lead to nothing - it breaks up without explanations. - It takes years to learn to read between the lines.

My number one advice is to explore Japan's potential with an experienced partner whose business network has wide connections. An experienced partner not only helps you to open doors and build relationships, but also minimize chances of misunderstanding and miscommunication. It is the same from Japanese companies’ perspective when they are interested in entering the Finnish market or into growing their business in EU through Finland.

Doing business in Japan is relationship-driven. A strong network of personal contacts is vital and it takes time to establish and nurture these relations. BUSINESS JAPAN offers expert services for companies who want to achieve growth in Japan. A nationwide network of contacts, profound knowledge of the Japanese (and Finnish!) business culture, and over 20 years of experience in developing international business operations provide a solid base for achieving goals set in cooperation with the clients.

If you are interested in developing your business in Japan, do not hesitate to contact me directly. I can help you to create a tailor-made go to market strategy and identify the best possible cooperation partners - Just like everything in life, one step at a time!

TIINA ROPO
+358 50 597 3077
tiina(at)businessjapan.fi