Mayor of London Boris Johnson has headed to Japan for a trade trip, and fintech will be one of the key things he is promoting whilst there.
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“We have plenty of knowledge and expertise to share across many important sectors, including hosting major world sporting events”.
The visit – which begins on Tuesday – will also include meetings to bolster technological trade ties with Japan, which was the fourth largest investor in London a year ago, including in financial technology, such as contactless payment systems, and biosciences.
Japan has the third largest advertising market in the world, with research revealing that the online video market will be worth nearly $1bn Dollars by 2017.
“This is our chance to loudly bang the drum for London”.
In recent years London has become a world beater in hosting major global sports events.
Mr Johnson wants to capitalise on the success of the 2012 London Games to promote British businesses at a “crucial moment” in the Japanese procurement process for its stint as a host nation.
As the three-day visit draws to a close, London’s mayor will take on child and adult players in an informal knockabout to mark the country’s preparations to host the next World Cup in 2019.
The Mayor of London has been in Japan this week on official business, and seemingly wasted no time in leading professional dancer Charlotte Gooch on a waltz around a department store in Osaka.
“She has built a world-class business by harnessing the best of London’s talent and innovation and is already spreading the message of our tech sector to global investors and audiences”.
Speaking on a trade trip to Japan, Mr Johnson said: “They have been going through a long period of stagnation but they are hoping to pull out of it”.
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After test-driving Toyota’s new hydrogen-powered auto, the Mirai, earlier this week, Mr Johnson will check out the competition at Mitsubishi Motors. The Mayor will join the Chair of London’s Tech City, Eileen Burbidge, and Barclays Chief Digital Officer Derek White, to share London’s expertise and highlight the opportunities to grow this area in Japan.
