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Venture 2002: Asian Forum on Venture Business
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VENTURE
2002: ASIAN FORUM ON VENTURE BUSINESS is one
of the major programs launched under the APO's
Strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
thrust area. It was held in conjunction with the
"Venture 2002 KANSAI," which was organized
in collaboration with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun;
Osaka Prefectural Government; Foundation for Osaka
Research Enterprise Companies, Osaka Securities
Exchange; Television Osaka Inc.; New Business
Conference Kansai; and Kansai Council. Encouraged
by the success of Venture 2000 and Venture 2001,
which were also held in Osaka, the organizers
decided to host this Venture 2002 as the third
in the series. An APO survey conducted this year
to evaluate the results of the two earlier Venture
Forums revealed that they had yielded benefits.Survey Reveals Benefits of Past Venture Forums |
To evaluate the benefits from the two earlier Venture Forums held in 2000 and 2001 in Osaka, a brief questionnaire was sent to 260 entrepreneur participants. Fifty-six responses were received back, for slightly more than a 20% return rate. Of the respondees, 62 business matchups were arranged or being negotiated as a direct consequence of the two Forums. The survey results strongly show that participants came to Osaka with the serious intent of finding business partners. They indicate as well that the Forums were able to achieve considerable success in spurring formal business tie-ups and cooperative sales activities between Asian entrepreneurs and established companies. Download the actual "Summary of Survey Results" in PDF format. |
The event took place 3–4 September 2002, at the Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka City, Japan. The objectives of the program were as follows:
- Share experiences among small entrepreneurs on how small firms could successfully establish their identities as new and venture businesses in light of the changing business environment; and
- Explore possibilities of matchmaking between venture business entrepreneurs across national borders by sharing information, technology, manpower, markets, and capital.
The gala event was open to the public, and it comprised four main activities running parallel to each other: the Symposium on Venture Business; Venture Expo 2002; presentation of business plans; and business matchmaking. The Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Ms Fusae Ohta, graced the event and delivered a welcome address at the Opening Session. Mr. Takashi Tajima, APO Secretary-General also delivered welcoming remarks during the Opening Session.
Altogether,
the two-day event attracted about 22,000 visitors.
Among them were 126 official participants, including
eight who were self-financed. They included senior
governmental officials directly responsible for
the promotion of venture business, representatives
of professional and business associations concerned
with venture business promotion, representatives
from National Productivity Organizations (NPOs)
in APO member countries, and a large group of
venture entrepreneurs and capitalists, mostly
representing SMEs, many of whom were seeking new
ties with overseas enterprises either to expand
operations or for establishing new distribution
networks. The eight self-financed participants
were all from APO member countries. The APO also
sponsored five of the 21 resource speakers at
the symposium. This year, a group of 15 participants
sponsored by the Department of Business, Economic
Development and Tourism of the State Government
of Hawaii also took part in the forum.
The APO booth at the Venture 2002 featured products and brochures from companies brought for display by the APO participants. The APO also provided facilities for the participants to make business presentations to promote their products and services and to seek possible business linkages with others. Twelve companies took advantage of this opportunity and made business presentations.
In addition, a business matchmaking service was offered to enable prospective business partners among APO participants to explore the possibilities of future joint ventures or business collaborations with Japanese enterprises. Those matchmaking services were utilized 53 times by participants at the forum.
Venture Expo 2002
The profiles of some of the participating
venture entrepreneurs and capitalists from
APO member countries are provided on this
home page. They are grouped under the following
six business categories:
- Biotechnology
- Information & Communication
- Venture Capital & Support
- Food Products
- Traditional Handicrafts
- Aquaculture
Japanese Companies and Entrepreneurs at Venture 2002 Kansai |
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A list of the Japanese companies participating in the Venture Expo 2002 is also featured on this home page. Like the participating companies from APO member countries, the Japanese companies are grouped into the following seven business categories:
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