Japan

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a giant trade area extending from the fringes of the Arctic (Hokkaido, Japan, main picture) to the Antarctic (New Zealand) and encompassing the giant economy of Mainland China as well as Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia.

Hong Kong and Japan have a had long and fruitful business relationship. In addition to their mutual strengths in areas such as electronics and information technology, much of the recent business between the two places has focused on food, beverages and crafts.

As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is an ideal development base for many overseas enterprises – and the city’s attraction is enhanced by the comprehensive protection its intellectual property laws provide. Some well-known Japanese chain drugstores have chosen to open stores in Hong Kong, and have applied for trademark registration to enhance consumers' recognition of their brands.

Monmaya, which at 150 years old is the last wooden cabinetmaker of its kind in Sendai, Japan, opened a physical store in Happy Valley at the end of last year, hoping to use Hong Kong as a springboard to expand its business across Asia and beyond. This video shows the company’s craftsmen at work.

As economies across the globe continue to reel from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong is looking to strengthen economic relations with key trading partners.

Japanese cuisine is a firm favourite with diners in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan shows that the mainland has, for the first time become the leading market for Japanese food exports.