Standard Chartered Bank Japan Return as Crystal Partner for the British Business Awards 2026

The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan is delighted to welcome Standard Chartered Bank Japan as a Crystal Partner of the British Business Awards 2026, marking the fourth time the bank has partnered with the BBA.

It is a relationship that has developed alongside Standard Chartered’s wider engagement with the Chamber. A BCCJ member since 2021, the bank supported the British Business Awards for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024, most recently as a Bronze Sponsor. In 2025, Standard Chartered participated in the Awards from a different perspective, entering the Responsible Business category in recognition of its work to advance sustainable economic growth and responsible investment in Japan.

Its connection with Japan, however, stretches considerably further back.

Standard Chartered first established a presence in the country in 1880, when the former Chartered Bank opened a representative office in Yokohama. Today, the bank works with Japanese corporates and financial institutions, connecting clients with opportunities across its international network, with particular depth across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

That combination of international reach and long-term local presence continues to evolve. Standard Chartered supported the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai as a ‘Proud to Support’ partner, and in February 2026 became a member of Keidanren, further strengthening its engagement with Japan’s business community and its support for Japanese companies expanding internationally.

Responsible business remains part of that story. In Japan, Standard Chartered Japan supports local communities through employee volunteering and initiatives that help young people thrive. Leveraging a global network across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, they also help clients advance their sustainability ambitions through sustainable and transition finance, including renewable energy and energy transition opportunities.

As Standard Chartered returns for their fourth year as Partner to the British Business Awards in 2026, we are pleased to continue a partnership grounded in many of the same principles that underpin the Awards themselves: international connection, long-term commitment and the ambition to turn relationships into meaningful progress.

'We are delighted to return as a Crystal Partner of the British Business Awards 2026 and to continue our longstanding partnership with the BCCJ. As an international bank with more than 145 years of history in Japan, we remain committed to connecting clients with opportunities across global markets and supporting sustainable growth. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of this year’s finalists and strengthening the ties between the UK and Japan business communities.' ーYusuke Asai, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Japan

We warmly welcome Standard Chartered Bank, Japan back to the BBA as a Crystal Partner of The Nineteenth Evening.