Boris Johnson is heading on a trade trip to Japan to promote fintech and life science investment… and the Rugby World Cup
The London mayor Boris Johnson is heading east to promote investment in the capital's fintech and life sciences sectors on a new trade trip to Japan.
The out-going mayor is seeking to tie up new deals between the countries in tech innovation and life sciences, as well as retail, in a bid to increase the £950m pumped into the capital last year by Japan, its fourth largest foreign investor.
“Japan is one of the world’s most important economic powerhouses with enormous potential for stronger partnerships with the capital," said Johnson.
Read more: David Cameron backs FinTech manifesto to make UK a world leader by 2020
"We have plenty of knowledge and expertise to share across many important sectors, including hosting major world sporting events. This is our chance to loudly bang the drum for London, strengthen our ties with Japan, and secure the long-standing relationships we need to create an abundance of opportunities for Londoners and the people of Japan to work more closely and collaboratively in the future.“
Johnson will be joined by newly appointed Tech City chair and the government's fintech ambassador Eileen Burbidge, and Barclays digital chief Derek White.
Representatives from London's life sciences will also join the Mayor in Japan, which is the second biggest investor in the sector over the last decade.
Green technology will also be a focus of the trip with Johnson visiting Toyota and Mitsubishi to discuss the potential of green transport.
He will meet with Toshiaki Endo, the minster for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games, and Yoichi Masuzoe, the governor of Tokyo, to share expertise in hosting major sporting events. Japan will also host the next Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Boris last year headed to Singapore to promote the capital's tech startups in Asia.