************************************************************************* Issue 26 [September 2008] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ************************************************************************* [CONTENTS, September 2008] 1. European Business Council (EBC) meets again with representatives of OCCI --- Great expectations for the future of projects ongoing in the Osaka/Kansai region 2. "Panel Bay" Study Group formed by 5 Kansai CCIs --- concentration of large plant / equipment investments in Osaka Bay Area 3. Economic Missions to be sent overseas 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors ========================================================================= 1. European Business Council (EBC) meets again with representatives of OCCI --- Great expectations for the future of projects ongoing in the Osaka/Kansai region Similarly to the meeting held on May 22nd 2007 at OCCI, 'Osaka Business and Investment Center' (known as "O-BIC" based at OCCI) organized, together with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, another meeting on Sep. 9 with leaders of EBC headed by Chairman Mr. Richard COLLASSE (President, CHANEL K.K. Japan), at the opportunity of EBC's 2nd Operating Board Meeting in Osaka. EBC in Japan represents chambers of commerce and industry or other Japan-based economic organizations of 18 European countries, and 13 top representatives were welcomed to the meeting. At the meeting, OCCI Vice Chairman Mr. Teiichi NISHIMURA (President, Sakura Color Products Corp.) and OCCI International Business Committee Chairman Mr. Satoshi ADACHI (Corporate Advisor, Marubeni Corp.) stressed the great potentials as well as current attractiveness of the Osaka/Kansai region for investments citing concrete cases as examples. After the meeting, they all went for a cruise on Osaka City's PR boat to observe from offshore what is dynamically going on in the Osaka Bay Area particularly the ongoing construction at Sharp Corp's complex for manufacture of LCD panels etc and other facilities to handle materials/goods. Chairman Collasse sees a bright future for Osaka-Kansai's large-scale projects, and emphasized his wish to continue to play the role as a PR pillar in the home country France as well as in Tokyo, to enhance Osaka's recognition. * O-BIC http://o-bic.net/ ======================================================================== 2. "Panel Bay" Study Group formed by 5 Kansai CCIs --- concentration of large plant / equipment investments in Osaka Bay Area In cooperation with the Sakai / Amagasaki / Kobe / Himeji Chambers of Commerce & Industry, OCCI has taken the lead to jointly form a Study Group for 'Business Collaboration in the Osaka Bay Area'. Total large investments by major Japanese manufacturers in Osaka Bay Area will exceed 1 trillion yen (approx 9.2 billion US dollars), with PANASONIC (Matsushita Electric Industrial) constructing plants for manufacture of plasma display panels in Amagasaki-city Hyogo Pref. as well as another plant for liquid crystal panels in Himeji-city Hyogo Pref., and SHARP Corp. constructing a complex for LCD panels and thin-film solar cells etc. Including investments by CORNING Incorporated (of the US) in glass substrates manufacture, also parts, accessories and materials to be included, the aggregate investments in the Bay Area are expected to reach 2 trillion yen. These large investments are contributing to the regional economy of Kansai with its real growth rate of GDP exceeding the nationwide average since 2006. The Panel Bay Study Group was formed with the aim to restudy ways for revitalization of regional economy as well as for business collaboration, on the strength of such large investments and newly accumulated industry. With the first meeting held on July 3rd included, 6 meetings will be conducted respectively at these CCIs in the 6 months up to December. At the final Dec. meeting, we will complete our representation proposals to the central and regional governments, on specific projects and ways of business collaboration to further contribute to revitalization of our regional economy. ======================================================================== 3. Economic Missions to be sent overseas During September-December 2008, OCCI-sponsored Economic Missions / Delegations to be sent overseas include the following main ones to three regions: - OCCI Economic Mission to Russia, September 19-26, 2008 For factfinding and collecting information on the latest of Russia's economy greatly developing with a background of sharp rises in the price of crude oil and other energy resources; visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg; also visiting a Japanese company locally operating. - Delegation to 'Meetings with Outsourcing Japanese Companies in Korea', October 1-3, 2008 Delegates (Japanese companies seeking outsourcing for their needs) will participate in the meetings with Korean companies organized to respond to Japanese companies' needs for purchases of machine parts, manufacturing on commission etc, through their outsourcing. - OCCI Economic Mission to Thailand & Vietnam, November 9-16, 2008 This Mission will visit these countries connecting the two regions of Huanan and the Greater Mekong Sub-region to explore business opportunities from the opening of East-West route through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam after the completion of the 2nd Mekong Bridge; meeting with government and business leaders, also visiting industrial parks and Japanese companies operating there. ======================================================================== 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors * July 24 (Thu) Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Conseil regional de Bretagne * August 22 (Fri) Mr. Prokhorov Ivan, Consul General Consulate-General of the Russian Federation in Osaka * September 9 (Tue) Mr. Richard Collasse, Chairman European Business Council in Japan * September 19 (Fri) Mr. Edward K. H. Dong, Consul General American Consulate-General in Osaka-Kobe ========================================================================