December 2020

Putting the needs of society first

Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod, a Social Democratic politician, was first elected as a member of Danish parliament in 1998.
February 2021

At the start of the journey

A member of the European Commission since 2014, Valdis Dombrovskis has, since 2019, served the European Union as executive vice president of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People since 2019 and as EU commissioner for trade since August of last year.
March 2021

Celebrating independence, embracing unity

Since joining the foreign service in 2003, Ambassador of Slovenia to Japan Dr Ana Polak Petrič has served her country in a variety of roles.
April 2021

Planning carefully, collaborating closely

An expert in innovation, disruption, and global governance, Manuel Muñiz Villa was appointed to the post of state secretary for global Spain in January 2020.
May 2021

Ready for recovery

This year, Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan Dr Andreas Baum celebrates 30 years in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. In addition to postings in Turkey and Canada, he has been minister and deputy permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York.
June 2021

Shared ambitions for a stronger future

Simon Coveney was elected to the Dáil (Irish Parliament) in 1998, becoming one of the youngest members of parliament to repraesent his party, Fine Gael. He has served as Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Brexit, and as Tánaiste (deputy prime minister).
July 2021

Making a difference behind the scenes

Masaki Sakuyama joined the manufacturing giant Mitsubishi Electric Corporation as an engineer in 1977. He was appointed president and CEO in 2014, and he has been chairman since 2018.
August 2021

An active EU stakeholder

Based in Brussels, the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE) is a business organisation that promotes open trade and investment, and advocates for the interests of Japanese firms with operations in the EU. Last year, Chris Jackson, president and CEO of NEC Europe, became president of the JBCE. He is committed to strengthening partnerships between Japan and the EU.
September 2021

Overseeing Europe’s Kasumigaseki

Since 1984, Ambassador of Japan to the EU Yasushi Masaki has been serving his nation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has held many positions throughout his career, including roles at Japan’s embassies in France and Iran, and has worked in Tokyo in the fields of international law, as well as economic and security affairs.
October 2021

Closer than ever before

First elected to Japan’s House of Representatives in 1990, Nobuteru Ishihara has served his country as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for more than three decades.
November 2021

Strengthening ties in Kansai

This year, Martin Eberts marks 35 years in Germany’s Federal Foreign Service.
December 2021

Accelerating innovation

Niklas Karvonen has been community director of the Nordic Innovation House Tokyo since it opened in May of last year. His experience in trade promotion for Finland, at a Japanese startup, and in event planning and community building for a coding education firm made him an ideal candidate for the role.
January 2022

Seizing opportunities for cooperation

Sophie Wilmès is Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, European affairs, foreign trade, and the federal cultural institutions.
February 2022

Advancing Swiss interests

Since 2012, Gregor Muischneek has served Switzerland in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). In addition to postings to China, Kenya, and Germany, he has worked in the Directorate of Political Affairs and the Directorate of International Law in Berne.
March 2022

New synergies, new opportunities

Since 1985, Ambassador of Italy to Japan Gianluigi Benedetti has served his nation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His first overseas posting was to Japan, from 1987 to 1991, then he worked at the Italian embassy in the US from 1991 to 1995.
April 2022

A time for unity

In 2003, Dr Anže Logar left the private sector to work as an adviser to Slovenian members of the European Parliament.
May 2022

Further strengthening a close bond

After serving in Switzerland’s National Council from 2007 to 2017, Ignazio Cassis was elected to the Federal Council in 2017 and has headed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs since taking office.
June 2022

Helping to shape the future we want

Founded in 1961, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental body, with 38 member countries, that works to improve economic progress and global trade through international standard-setting and knowledge-sharing.