Ontario Webinar: Market Trends and Opportunities in Japan
Speaker: Christian Howes
Moderator: Stephen Ip
Date: Tue, April 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST (Toronto time)
Location: Zoom Webinar (ID: 895 1455 2043, Passcode: 945713)
Fee: Free of Charge
Join us for the Ontario Webinar on Market Trends and Opportunities in Japan! We are delighted to invite you to this webinar for Ontario companies, which will provide analysis of market trends and emerging business opportunities in Japan. The webinar will be held on April 29 (Tue) at 6:00PM EST (Toronto time) and is Free of Charge.
Registration link: https://www.eventreg.mgcs.gov.on.ca/?eventid=2AB37EA1-F731-46C1-ADB2-E4397C37C107&lang=en
Event contact: Stephen Ip (stephen.ip@ontario.ca; 1-437-339-1529)
Description:
- The Government of Ontario is offering a webinar on market trends and opportunities in the Japanese market for Ontario-based businesses.
- Background: Japan, the 4th largest global economy with GDP at CAD 6.02 trillion (double of Canada), and Canada’s 4th largest trading partner, also ranks as the 2nd largest consumer market worldwide. Japan and Canada are part of the CPTPP which eliminates tariffs on many goods and services, providing Canadian exporters with improved access to Japanese market. Japan’s population of 123 million (2025) faces demographic challenges, with 36 million (29.3%) aged 65 or older in 2024. As Canada’s sole G7 partner in the Indo-Pacific, Japan plays a key role in the region, aligning with Canada’s 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy to enhance partnerships and address energy, food security, and climate change. Japan’s industries span automotive, electronics, IT, healthcare, lifestyle, infrastructure, and energy. From 2025 onward, the country faces challenges including supply chain resiliency, digital and sustainability transformations, and competition amid protectionism. Despite committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, Japan relies on thermal power (72%) and limited renewable energy (9%), hindered by slow nuclear plant restarts. To combat climate change, Japan advances energy transition strategies like ammonia, synthetic fuels, and CCUS technologies, ensuring economic and environmental progress. In Japan aging society, medical needs become more complex and diverse. Japan estimated 13% of GDP in future healthcare expenses by 2040, when the elderly population peaks.
- We are honored to welcome Mr. Christian Howes (Senior Economic Officer, Ontario Trade & Investment Office in Japan), as guest speaker to discuss about market trends and opportunities in Japan. The webinar will be conducted in English.
Agenda:
- Introduction,
- Doing Business in Japan (Christian Howes),
- Upcoming Missions and Programs (Stephen Ip),
- Q&A Session
Presenter’s Bio:
- Christian Howes, Senior Economic Officer, Ontario Trade & Investment Office, Japan – Christian Howes joined the Ontario government after more than 30 years of experience in the investment industry in 2021. In his role as director of Ontario’s presence in Japan he has supported investments by major Japanese companies such as Honda and Asahi Kasei in the province. He is honoured to lead the Tokyo team that has continuously expanded the footprint of Ontario companies in the Japanese market by hosting numerous management teams a month and at least five standalone trade missions every year. His investment advisory career was primarily focused on Japanese companies. One of his initial posts involved setting up the Canadian subsidiary of a Japanese investment bank in Toronto. In both Tokyo and NYC, he took leading roles in global sales, investor relations and equity research management for companies such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch and SMBC Nikko Securities. Years of strategic work with management of Japanese companies give him a unique background to help them focus on opportunities in Ontario. As an independent consultant he has represented numerous Canadian industries in Japan. He has also done long term projects for the federal government, the province of Alberta and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. After studying Asian studies and business at McGill University in Canada, he qualified as an investment professional in Canada, the US as well as Japan.
Moderator’s Bio:
- Stephen Ip, Trade Programs Branch, Japan & Korea – Prior to joining MEDJCT, Stephen dedicated 28 years to Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese conglomerate, where he specialized in international business development across sectors, including textile, aerospace, production machinery, energy, power and infrastructure. At MEDJCT, Stephen works with Trade Programs Branch covering Japan and Korea, and has delivered multiple business missions since 2023. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA in Data Analytics from the University of Fredericton in Canada.