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History

    Home History

    October 1st, 1987,

    The Quebec Japan Business Forum is officially established.

    The initial mission of the association is:

    “To promote relations between Quebec business people and Japanese business people, as well as to promote economic exchanges. ”

    Surrounded by a group of dynamic business people, the association is created by 3  founding members:

    • Mr. Normand Bernier, First Delegate General of the Government of Quebec in Japan
    • Mr. Masato Miyachi, banker (Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ)
    • Mr. Sumihiko Sato, Trade Commissioner (JETRO)

    Economic context

    In the 1980s, Japan developed a better organization of work and favoured technological innovation in the most promising sectors (telecommunications, electronics, information technology, office automation, robotics, biotechnology, etc.). In October 1987, Mr. Noboru Takeshita succeeded Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone as Prime Minister.

    In Quebec, after the major cuts of 1986-87, Robert Bourassa’s government announced in the 1987-88 budget that the economy was doing well and that it had succeeded in reducing the deficit. In 1987, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, Gil Rémillard, travelled to Japan to make known his administration’s position on Quebec’s political future.

    History of the Presidents

    PRESIDENTS OF THE QUEBEC-JAPAN BUSINESS FORUM

    M. Normand Bernier (Delegate General of the Government of Quebec in Japan)

    M. Gaston Boucher (Hydro-Québec)

    M. James A. Robb (Stikeman Elliott)

    M. Jean Bazin (Fraser Milner Casgrain)

    M. Michel Labonté (Banque Nationale)

    M. Amos Simpson (Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ)

    Mme Suzanne Éthier (Gouvernement du Québec)

    M. Robert Jean (Hydro-Québec)

    M. Brian Lambert (Sumitomo)

    M. Philippe Arseneau (JAL)

    Mme Lynda Paquin (Hydro-Québec)

    M. Claude Francoeur (Canippon Services)

    M. Philippe Arseneau (Vacances Tour Est)

    Mme Akira Yamaguchi (Sun Bridge Inc.)

    M. David-Kei Codere Maruyama (BCF Business Law)

    Mme Sara Couture (Fasken)

    Mme Joanie LEROUX-CÔTÉ (Investissement Québec International)

    M André-Philippe CHENAIL (Investissement Québec International)

    From 1987 to 2022

    1987-1990

    1990-1993

    1993-1995

    1995-1999

    1999-2000

    2000-2001

    2001-2002

    2002-2005

    2005-2007

    2007-2009

    2009-2012

    2012-2016

    2016-2017

    2017-2020

    2020-2021

    2021-2022

    2022 (july - sept.) Interim President

    2022 (sept.) -

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