********************************************************************* Issue 77 [October 2013] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ********************************************************************* [CONTENTS: October 2013] 1. Chairman Sato visits Vietnam, and exchanges views with President Truong Tan Sang 2. Introducing Japan's state-of-the-art medical equipment to invited overseas doctors 3. Conclusion of an MOU for mutual cooperation with Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) 4. Results of the g51st Business Economic Trends Surveyh ===================================================================== 1. Chairman Sato visits Vietnam, and exchanges views with President Truong Tan Sang Chairman Sato of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam from October 6 to 10. In Hanoi, the chairman had a talk with H.E. Mr. Truong Tan Sang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and, while expressing his gratitude for the support of the Vietnamese government, reported that enterprises from Osaka/Kansai had began branching out in Vietnam in line with requests from OCCI in an interview with the President in February 2012, which included the promotion of constructing rental factories for small- and medium-size businesses. Also, the Chairman requested further support in the future, aiming for the accumulation of more successful examples. Furthermore, he requested an increase in the number of flights by the Vietnam Airlines that connected Kansai International Airport and Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh). Responding to the Chairman, President Truong Tan Sang, showing his expectation for investments from Osaka/Kansai in Vietnam, especially by small- and medium-size businesses, expressed his wish for a further expansion of Japan's total investment in Vietnam, looking for an increase between 40 billion US dollars and 50 billion US dollars by 2015. Also, the President stated that, in order to achieve this, the Vietnamese government promised to provide further support by carrying out administrative reform and improving the relevant systems. With regard to an increase in the number of flights on Vietnam Airlines, the President agreed, and responded that he would give instructions to the related parties. ===================================================================== 2. Introducing Japan's state-of-the-art medical equipment to invited overseas doctors The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the Kansai Innovation International Strategic Comprehensive Special Zone gTraining / Demonstration Event of Medical Devices Developed in Japanh from September 30 to October 2. This project aims to disseminate Japan's clinical procedures and medical equipment for invited doctors in their home countries, promoting these procedures and the equipment's future international development, by holding a training / demonstration event for foreign doctors made up of a unified element of Japan's excellent clinical procedures (intangible aspect) and medical equipment (tangible aspect). This was the second such event following the one held last year, and was attended by nine participants from six countries and area (South Korea, Russia (two participants), Taiwan, Singapore (two participants), the U.S., and Qatar (two participants). In this project, an operation to implant Sun Medical Technology Research Corporation's auxiliary artificial heart into an animal was held at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center. Also introduced were Ecous's surgical field camera system, intended to take full hi-vision moving images from the operating doctor's point of view, and Niprofs in-vitro auxiliary circulation device. At Osaka University Hospital, the project implemented a cell-sheet attaching operation, and introduced the related medical equipment. Having received such comments as gHope to use these products according to our patients' symptomsh from the participating doctors, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will further develop a close relationship with the relevant countries. The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, targeting companies throughout Japan, has conducted gmedical equipment business support serviceh which is intended to provide coherent support, from needs collecting at medical sites to business assessment, concept making, trial manufacturing, nonclinical tests, clinical tests, pharmaceutical applications and cultivation of markets. Also for companies wishing to expand into overseas markets, the OCCI has provided support related to overseas business expansion in cooperation with related institutions in each country. ===================================================================== 3. Conclusion of an MOU for mutual cooperation with Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) To promote exchanges between companies in Osaka/Kansai and Taiwan and to promote the creation of business, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation on Oct.9 in Taiwan. Specifically the two organizations agreed on: 1) Jointly holding business meetings and seminars in the future for business matching between companies in Taiwan and in Osaka/Kansai 2) Cooperating to encourage small- and medium-size businesses and venture businesses with advanced products and technologies in both countries to mutually develop markets 3) Mutually accepting missions dispatched from their counterpart 4) Jointly implementing projects in order to promote inter-corporate exchanges among companies and the creation of new business. ===================================================================== 4DResults of the g51st Business Economic Trends Surveyh\Domestic business conditions continue to show underlying upward trend The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kansai Economic Federation has jointly implemented the gBusiness Economic Trends Surveyh once per annual quarter in order to understand its member companies' economic assessment and the actual conditions of corporate management. The survey at this time was carried out from late August to early September for 1,663 enterprises, whose results were already announced (no. of responses: 485 enterprises, valid response rate: 29.2%). With regards to domestic business conditions during the quarter from July to September, compared to those of the quarter from April to June, responses of gupwardh account for 40.5%, and gdownwardh for 7.7%. Although the Business Survey Index (BSI) showed 32.8, a drop from 45.8 in the previous survey, the standard itself remained high, showing a bright prospect. With regards to comprehensive judgment of in-house business conditions, BSI during the quarter from July to September was 8.0, a value that remains positive, at the same level as the previous survey at 8.2. Regarding responses to a question of business conditions according to size, while large enterprises expanded their positive territory from 10.3 in the previous quarter to 21.3 in this quarter, small- and medium-size businesses turned negative again, dropping from 6.1 in the previous quarter to 5.5 in this quarter. At the same time, regarding the question about the causes of price increase of goods and products, responses of gTransfer of increase in costs of the buying prices of raw materials and fuel expenses to the selling (delivery) pricesh accounted for the majority of around 85%. With regard to the question about the method of utilizing operating profit, the response of ginternal reservesh accounted for more than 40% (43.8%) followed by gCapital investmenth (31.5%),h and gRepayment of loans, etc.h (27.2%). O-BIC as one-stop service center for creating a foothold in Osaka http://o-bic.net/ Osaka Business & Investment Center (O-BIC), established in 2001, is operated through the joint efforts of the Osaka Prefectural Government, Osaka City Government, and Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry. As your one-stop service center for business investing, O-BIC provides a comprehensive yet detailed support system. International companies, foreign government offices and economic organizations as well as foreign-capitalized companies located in Japan are welcome to use the center to obtain accurate information and essential advice for creating a foothold in Osaka. For further information, please contact: o-bic@osaka.cci.or.jp = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 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 : Kazuko KAMADO (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.