“The main purpose of this organisation is to seek synergies between suppliers and manufacturers in the two countries,” said Yang, who spoke exclusively to Cosmetics Design Asia at the recent PCHi event in Shanghai.
“What really forges a strong bond between business in these two countries is that Japan companies need new business opportunities, whereas Chinese companies are looking to benefit from the experience and expertise that many Japanese players can offer.”
Japan needs business opportunities, China needs experience
In recent years, a relatively stagnant economy in Japan has led to a wide range of Japanese businesses looking to overseas to maintain growth momentum, a trend that has certainly been witnessed in the cosmetics and personal care sector.
Conversely, growth in China means that business opportunities in China continue to abound, but in a cosmetics industry that in many areas is still relatively immature, expertise is often the shortfall.
“The association is continuing to attract new members at a fast pace because they can all see the mutual benefits. It is very much a win-win situation,” said Yang, who operates as an industry consultant through his business, Beauty & Health Innovation.
“We only started the association one year ago and we already have 32 members, and we are continuing to attract new members at a fast pace because business from both countries are realising the advantages of reaching out to help one another.”
Ambitions to growth the trade association
Yang intends to grow the association further, and says that networking events, in both countries, have served to raise awareness and interest in the activities and opportunities that it promotes.
“This Autumn we will be holding the first annual event for the association in Shanghai, which will gather more than 100 industry professional and comprise over a two day period that will include a network event and a series of visits to manufacturing facilities in the Shanghai area,” said Yang.