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June 30, 2016

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Home » City specials » Ningbo

Shizuoka Prefecture keen to explore Ningbo business opportunities

By Leng Cheng | 00:10 UTC+8 June 30, 2016 | Print Edition

NINGBO, which boasts one of the busiest ports in China, offers numerous business opportunities for potential investors, especially from Asia, according to Akioka Eiko, advisor for commerce at the Shizuoka Prefectural Government in Japan.

Having served as the head of the Japanese Industry Pavilion during the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, Akioka has devoted herself in promoting business ties between China and Japan for years. She sees huge possibilities between Ningbo and Japan because of their excellent infrastructure conditions and cultural similarities.

Ningbo and Shizuoka Prefecture are connected by waterway between Shimuzu and Ningbo ports as well as Mountain Fuji Shizuoka Airport and Ningbo Lishe International Airport.

Ningbo, which is connected with over 560 ports in more than 90 countries and regions in the world, is one of the growing ports in China with a cargo throughput volume exceeding 100 million tons annually, according to Ningbo Port’s official website.

Akioka said the blueprint of Ningbo’s business development would rely on these routes and its linguistic network to gain access to the whole of Chinese mainland.

“Ningbo could be the distribution center for raw materials, an assembly line for electronic parts, and could even be developed as a key free trade zone,” Akioka said. “For any of these options, Ningbo Port will have to brace for a bigger throughput of goods, thus offering huge possibilities for business exchanges.”

Akioka also says there are common interests even in cuisines. For instance, the flavor of pickles is quiet similar as well as the preference for seafood. She said there was hidden economic tie behind the culture connection.

Putting her beliefs into practice, Akioka focused on promoting Japanese cuisine and culture. She acted as the intermediary for rainbow trout’s exports to Ningbo — a species that is known for its high-standard of breeding at the foot of Mountain Fuji — and ingredients for Japanese sashimi and sushi.

Akioka is planning a series of governmental exchange programs this year, including trips to check the seafood materials and a food contest between chefs from Ningbo and Japan.

Having opened her own consulting firm in Shanghai and Tokyo since 2012, Akioka believes that helping to bridge ties was crucial to understand the potential of cities like Ningbo.

“What we should do next is not only seek out similarities but also play roles that are complimentary to each other. Once business dealings are based on cultural exchanges, people would know more about what each other and their similarities,” Akioka said.

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