On December 7th, 2022, Professor NISHIDA AKIO, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce of Seinan Gakuin University, Japan, delivered an online lecture on "SME Financing in the Post-Pandemic Era” at the invitation of the Northeast Asian Research Center of Jilin University, the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University, the Institute of Japanese Studies of Jilin University, and the Special Committee for Northeast Asian Regional Studies, Academic Association for International Cultural Exchange. The lecture was hosted by Associate Professor Li Hongmei, Deputy Director of the Institute of World Economics, Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University.  

    Prof. NISHIDA AKIO is the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce of Seinan Gakuin University, Japan, a member of Japan’s Association of East Asia Regional Studies, and a visiting scholar at the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University in China. He has served as a member of the Policy Evaluation Business Review Committee of the Okinawa Development Finance Corporation, a financial administration consultant of the Fukuoka Finance Bureau, and a member of the external evaluation committee of the Fukuoka Prefectural Credit Guarantee Association. His main research field is the study of the local financial system centered on Kyushu region in Japan.

    The lecture was divided into four parts. Professor NISHIDA AKIO first introduced the business situation of SMEs in the service and retail sectors, which were most affected by COVID-19, and then listed the government policies to support SMEs, followed by a focus on zero-zero financing methods. Finally, he gave an outlook on the future of SME financing in Japan in the post-pandemic era.

    In the question and answer session, Prof. NISHIDA AKIO gave excellent answers to the questions raised by the students and faculty members. Associate Professor Li Hongmei summarized and commented on the online lecture and expressed her gratitude to Professor NISHIDA AKIO for sharing his research results.

    This academic lecture was one of the lectures in the High-End Symposium on Northeast Asia International and Regional Studies and part of the lecture series in Japanese Studies. The success of the lecture has enhanced the understanding of Japanese SME financing policies among the faculty and students of the College, broadened their academic horizons and had a positive impact on the academic exchange activities between the College and Japan.