************************************************************************* Issue 18 [November 2007] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ************************************************************************* [CONTENTS, November 2007] 1. Recent Trends of Economy and Movements in Kansai ---outlook for moderate expansion to continue 2. "East Asian Entrepreneurs' Market Entry Program" held ---to support entry into the Osaka/Kansai markets 3. Osaka-based SMEs Proud of Technologies come together at Virtual Business Talks 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors ========================================================================= 1. Recent Trends of Economy and Movements in Kansai ---outlook for moderate expansion to continue As confirmed in the recent short-term outlook on the economy by the Bank of Japan, the trends for moderate expansion seem to continue with the steadiness of exports and investments in plant and equipment. With the prospect for the state of things better in Kansai than the nationwide average for two quarterly periods in a row, the Kansai economy continues on the steady track of growth if taken broadly. However, according to the survey made in September over OCCI member companies, mainly small and medium enterprises seem to be at a standstill in their mind to positively promote business. This is caused by the confusion in US and EU financial markets brought on by the Subprime Loan problem, as well as by the sharp rises in the values of crude oil and other raw materials affecting business leaders' outlook on the immediate or near future. All these problems leave some aspects for the future unclear, and are worth keeping an eye on, including the impact on the domestic and overseas economies for the real state of affairs. OCCI continues to urge on the Government the need to move forward with the structural reforms to further ensure the pace of economic progress. Currently in Osaka/Kansai, large-scale investments are being made one after another such as those on the distribution facilities at the Kansai International Airport and some seaports, and also on new, state-of-the-art plants or some extensions of Japan's leading manufacturers (like Sharp and Matsushita) of information home appliances/equipment or audiovisual installations, and Nippon Life Insurance Company joining 'SAITO', Japan's leading bio-cluster in northern Osaka Prefecture. For Osaka to fulfill its roles as a major base of operations in East Asia, the world's growth center, and also as a gateway to link East Asia to the Kansai region, keen needs are felt to enhance its industrial competitiveness and to further improve on the systems of international distribution. ======================================================================== 2. "East Asian Entrepreneurs' Market Entry Program" held ---to support entry into the Osaka Kansai markets Under the sponsorship of OCCI International Business Committee (Chairman, Mr. Satoshi ADACHI), the E.A.E. Market Entry Program was held in Osaka on 5 days from October 16th inviting top executives from 10 companies of Taiwan, Hong Kong, other parts of China, and Korea, with comprehensive programs for support to entry into the Osaka/Kansai markets. During the period of the Program, 87 cases of one-to-one meetings for business were arranged between participants and Japanese companies. Also, specialists at the Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) offered detailed information on how to set up a company or ways to secure employees midway through the year etc. Visits were also organized for participants for their firsthand observations at the foreign companies already successfully operating in Osaka and at the temporary office facilities. Among last year's participating companies, Shanghai Safe Software Co., Ltd. decided to set up a company in Osaka. The result of this year's questionnaire shows the wishes of two companies to set up a base of operations within one year. Cases like this are followed up mainly by O-BIC. OCCI offers positive support to foreign companies planning to enter the Osaka/Kansai markets, and O-BIC offers related information to interested foreign companies through its site hereunder: * Osaka Business and Investment Center (http://o-bic.net/) ======================================================================== 3. Osaka-based Small and Medium Enterprises proud of their Technologies come together at Virtual Business Talks With the Promotion Committee of Global Business Opportunities (Chairman, Mr. Akio NOMURA who is Chairman of OCCI) having its Secretariat based in OCCI International Div. as the sponsor, the recently held Virtual Business Talks program made public various information from some Osaka-based SMEs who are proud of their technologies. This was an event held with the cooperation of 'Creation Core Higashi Osaka' who is a comprehensive support body for making products, featuring the Osaka-based SMEs possessing unique technologies known as "Creation Core Higashi Osaka Companies Group". For this year, besides the 174 companies with continuing displays, 25 newly participating companies joined making the total participants 199 companies. For more details, please access: http://www.g-boc.com/vbt/e/search/index.php?zone=11 'Virtual Business Talks' (VBT) is a B-to-B site created in 2003 for promotion of business exchanges, both domestic and abroad, and it enables foreign companies to post their information in Japanese. If organized by foreign consulates-general, consulates or economic organizations, features like the above can be arranged. For any inquiry, please contact the Secretariat (OCCI, International Div.) Tel: +81-(0)6-6944-6404 Fax: +81-(0)6-6944-6409 email:gboc@osaka.cci.or.jp ======================================================================== 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors * November 8 (Thu) Mrs. Jutta Stefan-Bastl, Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Austria * November 14 (Wed) Mr. Sermet Atacanli, Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Turkey * November 14 (Wed) Mr. Davide Giglio, Consul General Consulate-General of Italy ========================================================================