KazCIC Seminar: Practical Aspects of Doing Business with Japan

On February 16, a specialized seminar was held in Astana, organized by the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan, focusing on the entry of Kazakhstani companies into the Japanese market and the development of bilateral business cooperation. The event brought together business representatives and профиль organizations interested in expanding international partnerships and exploring new export opportunities.

The seminar was conducted in a hybrid format: 11 participants attended offline, while 36 joined the discussion online. This format made it possible to engage a wider audience of entrepreneurs from various regions of the country and ensured an active exchange of views.

Leila Sarsembayeva, the KazCIC Representative in Japan, participate as a speaker at the meeting. In her address, she emphasized the strategic importance of the Japanese market for Kazakhstani businesses and outlined the systematic work being carried out in this area.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to gain a general understanding of the interest of Kazakhstani entrepreneurs in the Japanese market. During one and a half years of our presence in Japan, we have been working to develop an effective framework to provide entrepreneurs with high-quality consultations. This year, we decided to develop, jointly with the Japanese side, a mechanism to support entrepreneurs of both countries who seek to find local partners. The mechanism will be based on holding similar seminars. Today we are discussing general issues of cooperation. In the near future, we hope to organize similar seminars with Japanese speakers, as well as in Japan with Kazakhstani speakers, in order to serve as an effective business bridge between small and medium-sized enterprises of Kazakhstan and Japan and to inform both sides about sectors with potential for mutually beneficial cooperation,” noted Leila Sarsembayeva.

During the seminar, key aspects of doing business with Japanese companies were examined in detail. Participants discussed issues related to finding and attracting partners in Japan, the peculiarities of business culture and etiquette, as well as the specifics of conducting negotiations with the Japanese side. Special attention was given to the principles of building long-term and trust-based business relationships, which form the foundation of successful cooperation in the Japanese business environment.

The meeting also addressed the corporate culture of Japanese companies and their characteristic decision-making mechanisms. The main mistakes and risks faced by entrepreneurs when entering the Japanese market were outlined, and practical recommendations for establishing and developing business contacts were presented.

Particular interest was generated by the session dedicated to cooperation opportunities between Kazakhstani companies and Japanese businesses, including promising export sectors, joint projects, and formats of interaction. During the Q&A session, participants received recommendations that will help them better prepare for entering one of the most demanding and competitive markets in the world.

The organization of such events confirms the consistent efforts of the KazCIC to support Kazakhstani businesses in international integration and export expansion. The organizers expressed their readiness to continue providing advisory and organizational support to entrepreneurs interested in developing cooperation with Japanese partners.

The seminar became an important platform for dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of practical solutions aimed at strengthening business ties between Kazakhstan and Japan.