On October 10, 2012, the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce hosted a social gathering (standing reception) at Minami Restaurant to promote interaction and fellowship among its members. The guests included our advisor, Economic Consul Naomi Ikutame, newly appointed Consul Yoshiyuki Tomi, Mr. Tokuyuki Uchiya from the Japan Customs Office, and Mr. Keisuke Tsujimoto, Director of the JOGMEC Vancouver Office, who gave a lecture at our recent annual general meeting.
Participants (in no particular order):
■ Naomi Ikutame... Consul for Economic Affairs, Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver.
After joining the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (then the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) in 1991, he was involved in supporting companies' international expansion through tasks such as trade insurance debt collection, country risk analysis, and economic partnership negotiations.
■ Yoshiyuki Tomi... Consul, Consular Section, Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver.
After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, he served at the Japanese Embassy in South Korea from 2004, and at the Japanese Consulate-General in Jeju from 2009, before reaching his current position.
■ Tokuyuki Uchiya... Japan Customs Vancouver CSI dispatched officer. He is in charge of Container Security Measures (CSI), which was initiated in January 2009 with the Canadian Border Services Agency.
■ Keisuke Tsujimoto... Director of the Vancouver Office of the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).
In my current position, I provide support (information provision, technical assistance, and financing services, etc.) to Japanese companies in the oil, natural gas, and metal mineral businesses in Canada and the United States.
