CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM and representatives from various CACCI Primary Members visited Osaka, Japan on 1-3 June 2025 to meet with officers and members of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and the Japan Young Entrepreneurs Group (Japan YEG), primarily to network with each other and share their views on current global and regional economic situation and explore possible areas of business cooperation.

The visit also allowed the CACCI delegation to visit the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, one of world’s most anticipated global events, providing them the opportunity to experience the cutting-edge innovation that were on display in the various country pavilions.

It was the third Presidential visit led by Mr. McMullin since he first assumed the CACCI Presidency in November 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. The first two visits were to Taiwan on 17-18 May 2023, followed immediately thereafter by a visit to Vietnam held on 22-23 May 2023.

The Presidential visits are intended to give the CACCI President and CACCI members the opportunity to gather first-hand information on the business situation in the host country; further build up the image of CACCI by making courtesy calls on key government officials; and meet business leaders in the country, particularly those from industries or sectors that the host country wishes to promote.

The delegation to Osaka was composed mostly of 25 chamber executives and businessmen from 11 CACCI member countries looking at possible business and investment opportunities in Japan or considering expansion of their existing businesses in the country, as well as to explore the possibility of attracting Japanese businesses to consider the market of their respective countries. A complete list of delegation members is attached as Annex 1.

The program of the visit was arranged by JCCI and Japan YEG through CACCI Vice President Mr. Daijiro Oshima and YEGAP Chairman Mr. Hiromi Aoki.

A chronology of the meetings and activities during the Presidential Visit to Osaka follows hereunder:

 

1 June 2025

 

Members of the CACCI Presidential visit delegation and of Japan YEG attended the dinner co-hosted by CACCI President Mr. McMullin and YEGAP Chairman Mr. Aoki. Held at the Blue Birds Rooftop Terrace at The Landmark Osaka Square situated right beside the historical Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, the welcome dinner provided the attendees the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other and to know more of their businesses and their other interests, thereby setting the stage for more camaraderie over the next two days.

 

 

The welcome dinner also marked the launching of the Good Business Network (GBN) founded by Mr. McMullin that aims to bring together businesspersons and encourage them not only to make money but also to undertake initiatives and activities focused on different aspects of social good. The GBN is affiliated with the Good Business Foundation, which was founded by Mr. McMullin “to show that there is another way. Another way to do business and to go forward. A way for us to be citizens not just consumers.” The Foundation supports purpose-driven SME businesses across the globe.

 

2 June 2025

 

Visit with the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

 

As the first activity for Day One Program of the visit, Mr. McMullin and his delegation went to the headquarters of Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), where they were met by the officers and members of the Chamber led by Vice Chairman Mr. Gyo Sagara and President Mr. Setsuo Iuchi.

In his Welcome Remarks, Vice Chairman Sagara noted that given the currently difficult economic and geo-political situation globally, it is important for business organizations such as CACCI and OCCI to explore possible areas of collaboration to help enterprises and their respective constituencies

overcome various challenges over time. Mr. Sagara mentioned some of the projects and initiatives undertaken by OCCI aimed at expanding businesses of its members in the Asian region, particularly the emerging economies. These include the following:

1. Holding meetings attended by high-ranking foreign government officials and Japanese business executives;
2. Sending economic delegations to emerging markets and assisting in the establishment of bilateral and multilateral economic relations and the development of emerging markets;
3. Receiving economic missions, and organizing business meetings that develop sales channels and matching with start-up companies in order to connect Osaka - Japan with the world;
4. Holding seminars and events, facilitating trade and investment through multinational and bilateral schemes; and seminars focusing on the latest business-related information about sales, personnel, purchasing and tax practice in the foreign countries;
5. Establishing the Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) to promote foreign direct investment in Osaka and other areas of the Japanese market by offering in-depth assistance and expert advice specifically tailored to the individual requirements of foreign investors;
6. Launching of the Global Innovation Forum in 2019 to promote global open innovation, and supporting the overseas expansion of domestic companies and startups, and collaboration between overseas startups and domestic companies;
7. Working together with government to create an environment suitable for conducting innovative demonstration projects and create a virtuous cycle for generating new businesses in Osaka, and inviting business operators from inside and outside of Osaka who wish to conduct demonstration projects in Osaka.

In response, Mr. McMullin thanked Osaka CCI and its officers Vice-Chair Gyo Sagara and President Setsuo Iuchi for receiving the CACCI delegation at the Chamber’s headquarters in Osaka. He also expressed appreciation to Osaka CCI for helping organize the CACCI Presidential visit to Osaka which coincides with the 2025 Osaka Expo. In addition, Mr. McMullin mentioned that CACCI was organized in 1966 as a forum for promoting the vital role of the businesspersons in the region, increasing regional business interaction, and enhancing regional economic growth, with current membership that includes 29 national chambers of commerce from 27 countries and economies, including the JCCI.

 

 

Mr. McMullin provided some background on JCCI’s membership in CACCI, such as:

1. JCCI is a Founding Member of CACCI (1966), and – along with its members such as the Osaka CCI - has been one of the most active Primary Members;
2. Since CACCI’s establishment in 1966, JCC has hosted 11 of its annual Council Meetings and Conferences held in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe, Fukuoka and Yokohama);
3. A total of 8 leaders of JCCI have served as Vice President of CACCI, with Mr. Daijiro Oshima as the incumbent VP;
4. JCCI has also hosted two CACCI Presidential visits previously – in 2013 and in 2019;
5. JCCI has recently conducted (on May 23) an Investment Forum on the current state of the Japanese economy and investment opportunities that the country offers, especially to foreign investors;

Mr. McMullin took the opportunity to Invite the Osaka CCI officers and members to the following upcoming CACCI events:

1. Presidential visit to Melbourne on September 1-4, to coincide with the 14^th ICC WCF World Chambers Congress focusing on the theme “Business, chambers, government: Partners for prosperity”
2. 39th CACCI Conference to be held on November 10-11 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. To be hosted by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka as host chamber, the two-day Conference will focus on the theme: “Entrepreneurship in the Asian Century”

He also expressed his hopes that OCCI will remain actively involved in the Confederation as CACCI certainly needs Japan's representation in the group, given the important role that the country’s economy and business sector play in the development of the Asia-Pacific region.

Each member of the CACCI delegation was then requested to introduce himself and state his interest in joining the Presidential visit to Osaka.

At the end of the visit, Mr. McMullin exchanged tokens of appreciation with Mr. Sagara and Mr. Iuchi for making the visit possible and allowing the two sides to meet and share important information on each other’s activities and explore possible areas of cooperation.

Memorandum of Agreement Signing Ceremony

Following the meeting with OCCI, the CACCI delegation proceeded to the ATC Hall to attend the formal signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Agreements between YEGAP and the following Young Entrepreneurs Group from other Asian countries:

 

• Young Entrepreneurs Association Brunei (YEAB)
• Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC)
• Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association (MYEA)

 

The signatories of the MOUs were Mr. Hiromi Aoki, YEGAP Chairman; Mr. Louis Loo, YEAB Executive Committee Member; Mr. Kimsour Lay, YEAC Vice President; and Ms.Thin Thin Khew, MYEA President.

Each of the signatories cited the signing of the MOUs as an important beginning of a productive and meaningful cooperation with the other young entrepreneurs groups of the Asia-Pacific region that are under the umbrella of YEGAP CACCI, and that they all looked forward to working closely with each other in bringing the spirit and objectives of the MOUs into fruition.

Asian Youth Economic Organizations Exchange Program

The delegation then proceeded to the Asian Youth Economic Organizations Exchange Program organized by Japan YEG to provide a platform for members of YEGAP, the various young entrepreneurs groups from other Asian countries represented in the meeting, and members of the CACCI Presidential visit delegation to exchange views on the main theme of “What Role is Japan Expected to Pay in Asia and the World Today”. Prior to the start of the Program, Welcome Remarks were delivered by Mr. Daijiro Oshima, CACCI Vice President and JCCI Special Advisor; Mr. Peter McMullin AM, CACCI President; and Mr. Norihiko Ishiguro, JETRO Secretary General. The Welcome Remarks were followed by the Keynote Speech of Mr. Hiromi Aoki YEGAP Chairman, who spoke on “The Value of the International Youth Network.”

A Panel Discussion ensued, which was moderated by Mr. Aoki, and featured the following as panelists:

• Ms. Thin Thin Kew, MYEA President
• Ms. Deborah Bottreau, MAYA President
• Mr. Theodore Khng, YBLN Executive Member
• Ms. Philaiphonr Vongpraseuth, YEAL Vice President
• Mr. Michael Lim, YEGAP Vice Chairman
• Mr. Tomoichiro One, Japan YEG Chairman

 

 

The panelists addressed and shared their thoughts - from their country’s or their business’s perspective - on the following important issues:

1. Working Together Across Cultures – Given that Japan and ASEAN countries have many different cultures and traditions, the panelists discussed views on how these differences can be protected and respected while creating new ideas and businesses together.
2. Common Problems in Asia – Many Asian countries face the same problems, like climate change, differences in education, and lack of infrastructure. To solve these problems, young people from different countries need to work together more. The panelists shared their perspectives on what Japan and Japan YEG can do to help, and on what they think are the special strengths of Japan that can be useful in this regard.
3. One Asia, One Family – The panelists were also requested to give their thoughts on what must be done to make a reality the YEGAP Chairperson’s idea on “One Asia, One Family”.

After the Panel Discussion, breakout sessions were conducted, with each session featuring individual presentations on their respective organizations and om the economic situation in their respective countries, by representatives of the following youth organizations: (a) Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC); (b) Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA); (c) The Third Wednesday Club Young Entrepreneurs Group (TWC-YEG); (d) Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA); and (e) Japan YEG.

 

 

Day Two ended with a Networking Dinner among the participants and other invited guests, during which they were treated to traditional Japanese cuisine and drinks, while enjoying and joining on-the-spot performances by Japanese cultural groups.

3 June 2025

Opening Reception and Tour of Expo Osaka 2025 Expo26

 

 

The delegation attended the Opening Reception held at the Japan Pavilion. As part of the Program, representatives of the various young entrepreneurs groups under the CACCI YEGAP umbrella were requested to go up the stage and formally presented to the audience. Mr. McMullin as head of the CACCI delegation was asked to deliver brief Remarks as well. In his remarks, the CACCI President thanked JCCI and the other organizers of the Expo Osaka for inviting CACCI members to participate in the important event, and gave a brief introduction on the Confederation and its activities. He also expressed his hopes that the Osaka visit of the CACCI delegation will open doors for more economic cooperation between CACCI member countries and Japan, particularly Osaka.

During the ceremony, the CACCI delegation also had the opportunity to watch some cultural performance reflecting Japanese culture and old traditions, including a special show on the Japanese kimono history and the evolution of this important and valued heritage of the Japanese people.

After the Opening Reception, the delegation proceeded to have a tour of the Expo. Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather and the long queues to enter the country pavilions on that day, the delegation managed to visit only a few, including the pavilion of the United Arab Emirates where they were given a special tour by the pavilion host.

Dinner Hosted by Suntory and CACCI Vice President Daijiro Oshima

As the last activity of Day Three, the delegation gathered at the dinner hosted by CACCI Vice President Daijiro Oshima, Special Advisor to JCCI, and Suntory. The occasion provided the delegates another good opportunity for further networking and strengthening of friendship and business relations.

Before the end of the dinner, President McMullin presented tokens of appreciation to Mr. Oshima and Mr. Hiromi Aoki for hosting and organizing the Presidential visit to Osaka. The delegates were then treated to a special Fountain Show that took place just outside the dinner venue, before saying goodbye to each other and officially concluding the visit.