(September 8, 2022) JR Shikoku, the railway operator serving the smallest of the main islands of Japan, announced on September 8, that is is organising a Seminar on the procedure of Government Procurement for Rolling Stock. It is the first major initiative by the operator aimed at the international railways market since the conclusion of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2019 and a rare opportunity to receive first-hand information on procurement practices by Japan's publicly owned railways operators. 

The 90-minute Seminar is scheduled to be held on September 29, 2022 starting at 16:00 JST (7:00 UTC) The Seminar will be hybrid and participation online on the Zoom platform will be possible as well. 

During the Seminar, JR Shikoku will explain its new rolling stock procurement policy and methods. The meeting is open to manufacturers of rolling stock and equipment, trading companies etc. The meeting is held in Japanese, it is not clear whether English-language translation is provided. 

The invitation published on JR Shikoku's website is available here.