The purpose of the JMEC program is to strengthen the skills of young business executives while fostering the development of foreign businesses in Japan.

Individuals participating in the program attend a series of 20 lectures and workshops presented by experienced executives from the business community. The lectures are presented in English and are delivered on Saturdays between October and December.

Following the lecture series, the participants are divided into competing teams and each team is asked to prepare a unique business plan for a company planning to enter, or reposition a product, or service, in the Japanese market. The business plan preparation period runs from December until May 2004.

The Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce initiated the JMEC program in 1993. It is based on the New South Wales Enterprise Workshop.

Over the past nine years, 447 JMEC team members have prepared business plans for 85 client companies, covering a broad range of products and services.

Past clients include: Bang & Olufsen, Dyson, Electrolux, The Financial Times, Heineken, Lloyds Bank, Nina Ricci and Waterford Wedgwood.

The JMEC team members are all university graduates working in Japan. They are fluent English speakers with diverse cultural and business backgrounds. Aside from English, many participants are also fluent in the Japanese language. Last year's program included male and female graduates from 15 nations. This diversity is a major asset to client companies looking for new - outside the box - solutions to business problems.

For more information regarding JMEC, please see:
http://www.jmec.gr.jp/home/index.html