********************************************************************* Issue 89 [January 2015] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ********************************************************************* << NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE >> (from Shigetaka SATO, Chairman, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) < Creating a positive economic cycle in which we all can feel the good results for real > I would like to take great pleasure in offering our New Year's greeting. Last year was one in which polarization advanced between the advantages and disadvantages of the lower yen. While such occurrences as improved export costs, increased consumption by visitors to Japan, and rising stock prices as triggers for economic recovery, small and medium -size enterprises that were not able to fully reflect the increased prices for imported raw materials to their sales prices, and industries that were involved in many re-importation cases all were severely affected. I hope that this year will be one in which the economic policies of the Abe administration, which was given a mandate by the people once again, has a widespread ripple effect, and produces good results that can be actually felt by the general public too. To this end, the Administration needs to shake off its dependence on monetary relaxation, and realize a positive economic cycle by making strenuous efforts for its growth strategy and financial reconstruction. From this perspective, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry immediately proposed a petition to the third Abe administration. There is an urgent need to make every possible effort to inhibit further depreciation of the yen and to stabilize the exchange rate, as well as to expand support for small and medium-size enterprises suffering from the lower yen. In this growth strategy, it is considered indispensable to encourage the utilization of National Strategic Special Zones that aim at bold deregulation; to promote ginbound tourismh and the glife sciences industryh that are expected to serve as driving forces in the acquisition of foreign currencies; and to push ahead with regional revitalization that can correct the unipolar concentration in Tokyo. With regard to financial reconstruction, based on the postponed rise in the consumption tax, the course for achieving the goal of fiscal consolidation must be reconstructed. Considering the two years until another rise in consumption tax in April 2017 as the gConcentration Period for Expanding Growth,h we will continue urging the third Abe administration to focus on realizing economic expansion and improving growth potential, and will follow up on our request. It is, of course, very important for us as private enterprises and economic organizations to make efforts toward economic expansion and growth enhancement with the participation of all parties, including governments and citizens, rather than just relying on the national government. Based on the regional growth strategy plan gOSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors,h the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry is currently promoting various projects with the participation of all parties. Fortunately, with a series of large-scale investments such as the opening of Abeno Harukas and the Harry Potter area of Universal Studios Japan, inbound tourism rapidly expanded last year. Also in the National Strategic Special Zones, with the designation of the Kansai region as an ginternational innovation hub in the health and medical fields,h a new concentration of companies and industry promotions are expected along with advanced deregulation. The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will more powerfully promote efforts to take advantage of these favorable opportunities for further development. On the other hand, Osaka/Kansai must hurry to respond to the Linear Chuo Shinkansen (Linear Bullet Train), whose prior construction has begun for the section between Tokyo and Nagoya, as well as the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held five years from now. In the regional revitalization projects that can correct the unipolar concentration in Tokyo, we in Osaka/Kansai would like to show ourselves as model examples, as an area highly concentrated with motivated small and medium-size enterprises and promising industries with high potential in order to guide regional efforts. The gOSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors,h at which the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry aims, is rooted in the DNA of Osaka, an area that prospered in the Edo period as the gkitchen of the land.h The town of Osaka temporarily declined with the Meiji Restoration, but in 1925 became gGreat Osaka,h the worldfs No. 6 largest city. Reaffirming our DNA as gOSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors,h and looking ahead at the 100th anniversary of gGreat Osakah in 2025 and the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2028, we would like to strive toward realizing an gOSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitorsh through the everyonefs participation. In conclusion, we would greatly appreciate your continued support and kind cooperation with regard to future OCCI activities. Shigetaka SATO Chairman Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Chief Editor : Shinji MARUYAMA, Director of International Division, OCCI Mailed by : Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Division Address : 2-8 Hommachi-bashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan 540-0029 Tel : +81-(0)6-6944-6400 Fax : +81-(0)6-6944-6293 Contact Persons : Noriko FUJITA (Ms.), Hikaru KOHAMA (Mr.) Back Numbers of OCCI e-Magazine: http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/mail/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = * Please contact us through the email (kohama@osaka.cci.or.jp) to inform us of your change of e-mail address, or of your wishes not to receive OCCI e-Magazine.