Japan Trade Events

◆37th NOA Conference (Friday, May 12, 2023) ◆

The Commercial Service Japan announces the 37th New Orleans Association (NOA) Conference—a one-on-one business matchmaking event for U.S. firms/suppliers and Japan’s major electric power utilities—to be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 (09:30–18:00 Japan Standard Time).

This opportunity for representatives of U.S. suppliers of non-fuel materials and equipment and their Japanese agents will provide for individual meetings with the procurement managers from Japan’s 12 major electric power utilities (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Tokyo, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa Electric Power Companies, Japan Atomic Power Company and J-POWER), which generate 80 percent of the nation’s electricity.

• Date: Friday, May 12, 2023
• Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Hibikoku Conference Square, located in Central Tokyo (Uchisaiwai-cho 2 Chome 2-3-8F, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-0011

About the NOA Conference:

Following a successful procurement seminar (jointly organized by Japanese electric utilities and the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Energy) held in New Orleans in September 1994, the first NOA Conference took place in Tokyo in July 1995.  Representatives from 12 Japanese electric utilities and U.S. suppliers participated in both seminars.

To continue the momentum and enthusiasm shared by the U.S. and Japanese attendees at that first 1994 seminar, the New Orleans Association (NOA) formed, and the U.S. Department of Commerce has since taken the lead in holding annual NOA conferences and events.

Participation Fees: Registrants submitting payment by Tuesday, February 28 are eligible for the ‘early bird’ participation fee $500 per company (up to three people).  Additional participants can register for $150 per person during this time.  Beginning on March 1, the standard fee of $600 per company and $200 per additional participant (above three) will apply. 

Conference costs (which cover expenses for the event venue, IT connections, and other charges) are shared by participating U.S. firms, and the U.S. Embassy will collect these participation fees directly.  The 12 Japanese electric power companies will contribute additional funds to cover operational costs.  Emerson Automation Solutions (Emerson Japan) has been appointed as the U.S. Secretariat of the 2023 NOA Conference. 

Important Notes:

· U.S. companies interested in attending this year’s NOA Conference can reference the attachment “What Japanese electric power companies seek from U.S. suppliers” to learn more about the utilities’ general needs.

· U.S. firms can participate remotely via Webex in meetings with the Japanese electric power companies.  However, at least one representative from each participating U.S. firm must attend the event in person.

· Some screening is necessary to set up the individual matchmaking meetings.  For the utilities to understand the products and services being offered, U.S. firms are asked to fill out their application forms (37th NOA Conference Meeting Application). Additionally, U.S. firms are encouraged to submit a product/technology brochure (preferably two to three slides in PowerPoint/PDF format); these materials are helpful in  arranging meetings with the Japanese utilities.

· We anticipate approximately 20 U.S. firms will participate in all or most of the 10 meeting sessions with the Japanese utilities.  We will work with the utilities, take every U.S. firm’s request into careful consideration, and make every effort to fulfill the requests when arranging individual meetings.  However, please understand that not all meeting requests will be realized.

For further information and registration, please contact:  Takahiko Suzuki, Senior Commercial Specialist, Commercial Service Japan, U.S. Embassy Tokyo (Takahiko.Suzuki@trade.gov).