Our mission trip to Japan has wrapped up, and we’re returning with a wealth of insights and new connections.

The journey began at the Japan FinTech Festival, where Ravi Menon highlighted key trends in the financial landscape, emphasizing the need for AI policy guidelines and regulation challenges. Mamoru Yanase from the Financial Services Agency shared their commitment to financial stability and the responsible use of AI. Akio Isowa from SMBC provided a detailed overview of Japan’s evolving startup ecosystem and business culture.

In the subsequent days, we engaged in a roundtable discussion led by Shadab Taiyabi on building a thriving financial and FinTech ecosystem in Japan. This discussion provided valuable insights into Tokyo’s financial hub role, the challenges Japanese banks face, and the regulatory support provided.

We met with MUFG and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, where we explored their support offerings and successful collaborations with startups. These meetings highlighted their interest in expanding into cross-border payments and new business solutions. Our visit to SMBC Nikko Securities and discussions with partners like GMO Payment Gateway and GMO Venture Partners focused on fintech investments across India, Southeast Asia, and the USA and their strategies for cross-border innovation.

At Mizuho’s Digital Planning Department, we learned about their focus on digital transformation and operational efficiency through GenAI and their collaboration with startups to create new business opportunities. Our discussions with SBI Securities and SBI Digital Asset Holdings revealed their investments in core banking systems and their cooperation with MAS on Project Guardian.

Reuben Lim participated in a panel on fintech partnerships between advanced and emerging economies, exploring groundbreaking collaborations. Our meetings with Tokyo Star Bank, JCB, and au Financial provided networking opportunities and insights into their solutions and areas of interest.

Our mission trip to Japan was rewarding, paving the way for future cross-border FinTech collaborations. We thank all our delegates and the SFA team for their strong support throughout the trip.