KAI KÔ Business Reception 2025: Offenbach deepens the German-Japanese dialog
As part of the Japanese cultural festival Main Matsuri, this year's German-Japanese Business Reception KAI KÔ took place on August 15, 2025 at the Bernardbau in Offenbach.
Around 110 guests from business, politics and society accepted the invitation from the Offenbach Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which is now organizing the format for the third time in cooperation with the city of Offenbach.
Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke opened the event together with IHK President Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller. In his speech, he emphasized Offenbach's special ties with Japan and recalled his trip to Kawagoe last year: "Our more than 40-year partnership with Kawagoe has enabled many valuable encounters in the areas of youth, business, sport and culture. The ceremonial renewal of our connection last year in Kawagoe was an important sign of the growing friendship between our cities."
Schwenke also emphasized the importance of the business reception for Offenbach as a business location and thanked in particular the Japanese Consul General in Frankfurt, Takeshi Ito, who also acts as patron of the festival, and the Offenbach Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
The Lord Mayor also took a look at Offenbach's economic development: "While Germany is still facing major uncertainties after years of stagnation, Offenbach has left the bottom of its own crisis behind. For the first time in over 33 years, we have more than 50,000 jobs again - a clear sign that our joint course is working." It is precisely this good cooperation between the city, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the economy from which the Japanese companies based in Offenbach also benefit: "Renowned companies such as Honda R&D Europe, Falken Tyre Europe, Menicon Germany and Fuji Electric Europe show how attractive Offenbach is as a location."
The focus of the evening was the topic "AI. Automation. Growth. - Innovation & investment for sustainable growth in the digital age", presented by SMC Deutschland GmbH. In his keynote speech, Patrik Scherrer, Senior Vice President and Member of the Executive Board of SMC Deutschland GmbH and SMC Schweiz AG, showed how artificial intelligence and automation can make industrial processes more efficient, flexible and sustainable and provide new impetus for growth.
The reception that followed provided ample opportunity for discussions, new contacts and the deepening of partnerships. KAI KÔ once again underlined its importance as a central platform for German-Japanese business dialog in the FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region. Since 2019, the format has specifically promoted cooperation between the two countries, thereby contributing to sustainable growth and international competitiveness.
