************************************************************************* Issue 9 [January 2007] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ************************************************************************* [CONTENTS, January 2007] << NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE >> (from Akio Nomura, Chairman, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) ========================================================================= << NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE:gTo Take the Course for a Fresh Growthh>> With renewed hope for 2007, it is my great pleasure to offer our felicitations and good wishes at the beginning of the year. As we achieved economic recovery of unequalled duration supported by monetary policies overcoming difficulties with credit and bank interest movements, 2006 has been an impressive year, with corporate businesses starting to move ahead to take the offensive for their future. While some of them continue to suffer, those in the Osaka/Kansai region as a whole attained the leading rank in recovery, surpassing other regions of Japan. It may be said without exaggeration that the vitality of Osaka/Kansai last year has been the driving force of the national economy. For 2007, on the strength of further expansion, our aim is to contribute to all sectors, at national and regional levels, to take the first step to new growth stages through aggressive challenges for innovations, by raising new business from seed or bud toward future fruition. This year, for economic effects, we are encouraged that another runway will be completed on the Kansai International Airport, and also that some major international events will be conducted in Osaka, such as the Asia Metropolis Summit, the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention etc., all to be brought to success through our concerted efforts, resulting in turn in better recognition of our region where more activities will be created. For further development of the Osaka/Kansai region, we will seize this great opportunity to make the most of the impetus gained by the recent recovery to enhance our competitiveness, regional vitality and exchanges with overseas interests. For the past two years, we at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been pushing ahead our main strategy the gPlan to Create Liveliness in Osakah with 51 action plans, producing concrete results, creating forums for business-matching between large corporations and venture enterprises or between universities/research institutes and industry. On the other hand last year, we recognized anew the power of citizenry for town redevelopment, in reviving entertainment facilities by citizensf donations, or in cleaning off scribbles and paintings of graffiti that smear downtown Osaka. Since fiscal 2007 is the final year of the Planfs first 3-year program, we will plan for projects for the second 3-year program while tackling remaining tasks. Most important as our primary task is revitalization of small and medium enterprises on whom the regional or even national economy largely depends. We will continue to do our utmost for the small and medium enterprises who are the mainstay of our economy to meet their various needs in securing or developing human resources, exploring or enlarging outlets for their products and services, raising funds or capital etc., as well as in making representation to central and regional governments. Through our steady endeavors to carry out realistic projects one after another, we will make contributions to our region and enterprises that support us as an indispensable business organization. For all these efforts, particularly those concerned with our activities with overseas, we seek your valuable cooperation and welcome your suggestions for us. I wish you every success and all the best for 2007. ======================================================================