2012 Mar- Expect the Unexpected

Home » Events » 2012 Mar- Expect the Unexpected

Business Continuity Planning in an Uncertain World

15 March 2012, Japan: One year on ……

In March,  Japan will be remembering last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami. The scenes of devastation which astounded people worldwide will not be forgotten in Japan or elsewhere. As the anniversary approaches, Japanese businesses are considering how to ensure they are better prepared than ever for similar unexpected events in future. We believe that British companies experienced in power management, IT services, business continuity and support services are well-placed to help Japanese businesses prepare.

In partnership with Business Link Japan, the British Embassy in Tokyo will hold an “Expect the Unexpected” business symposium in the  Ambassador’s Residence on 15 March 2012.

Your company will be able to:

• Access potential Japanese clients and local partners, including major multinational corporations, a crucial first step in winning contracts in Japan.
• Showcase your business to senior decision-makers and a working level Japanese business audience.
• Hear directly from Japanese businesses about the scale, range and urgency of needs

More than any other developed economy, Japan faces the reality of a myriad of natural disasters each year- with the risk of earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoon season and associated flooding.

How to plan for the next crisis and not the last?  How to focus on the consequences and not cause of business discontinuity?  These are the challenges that Japanese companies are grappling.  For some, support is urgently needed at the strategy/planning/risk management stage -intellectual input for which the UK is renowned.  Other firms are actively searching for key practical capabilities, representing significant and near-term export opportunities.

Last year’s earthquake and tsunami was the most expensive natural disaster in history (est. £130 billion). Japan’s energy and food security is heavily dependent on suppliers and supply routes operating in a fast changing and unpredictable political context. Increasingly Japanese manufacturing is outsourced to neighbours like Thailand who face similar challenges. The impact on worldwide supply chains from last year’s disaster was huge and affected trade and production across the world