Shigetaka Sato
　　Chairman, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
　　(Chairman of the Board, Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd.)

       The Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused unprecedented devastation to the Tohoku region in March 2011, was a serious economic blow not only to the disaster-hit areas but also to the entire country. Currently, Japan’s economy is suffering from the persistent strength of the yen, lingering deflation in the country, increasingly tight regulations on environmental management and those on labor management, power shortages, and additional damage caused by harmful rumors stemming from the accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, etc. 

       For the economic revitalization in Osaka and other areas in the Kansai region, we, at the OCCI is now accelerating our efforts to accomplish our new growth strategy, the “Plan for OSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors” launched in April, 2011.  The purpose of this plan is to make all-out efforts to create a so-called “virtuous cycle” of inbound and outbound flows between Osaka/Kansai areas and overseas countries/regions, by means of attracting tourists and investments especially from rapidly growing Asian countries, and creating new business opportunities in Osaka and other areas in Kansai, from which these opportunities are spread back to overseas markets.

       In order to put the Osaka/Kansai economy, and ultimately the entire Japanese economy, on the growth track once again, we have been striving to forge ahead with the five strategic projects, as well as the range of initiatives in the four specific areas for reinforcing economic foundations that are specified in the Plan for OSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors. We aim for successful accomplishment of these projects and initiatives by uniting the efforts made by OCCI’s executive members and councilors, corporate members and the secretariat, while obtaining cooperation from the national government, Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, and other economic organizations.

       One of our projects is to establish a “City of Tourism and Entertainment”, which is aimed at attracting tourists primarily from China and other Asian countries and regions.  OCCI conducted surveys regarding Chinese tourists by distributing questionnaires to approximately 4,500 stores in Osaka and based on the survey results, OCCI plans to compile and issue a handbook introducing tourist reception know-how, and to conduct external seminars and symposiums dealing with related topics.

       Achievements in the Plan for OSAKA METROPOLIS of Endless Visitors are also seen in its two other projects: the project to “Form a MEDICAL POLIS” in order to establish concentration of businesses and other industrial facilities in the fields of drug development, medical appliances, food, etc., while capitalizing on Kansai’s cluster of medical institutions including the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center; and the project to be a “Hub for Research & Development for Environment / New Energies Industries” with the aim of establishing in the Osaka Bay Area one of the world’s top-class R&D bases for environmental and new energy researches.  In these two projects, OCCI applied for a designation of “comprehensive special zone of international strategies for innovation in Kansai,” setting its sights on establishing in Kansai an Asian hub for creating new industries, in tandem with governments of prefectures and government-ordinance-designated cities located in the Greater Osaka area. As a result of accumulated efforts, we were able to obtain the designation of “comprehensive special zone of international strategies” in December, 2011.  OCCI will try hard to fulfill this advantage by providing new opportunities through enhancing collaboration between industry / industry and between industry / academia / government.

       Our fourth project, which is to be a “Hub for Export of Water Infrastructure” is intended to promote export of water-related infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage equipment and systems. Under this project, OCCI organized and operates the Water Group that was established within the framework of the Kansai-Asia Environmental and Energy-Saving Business Promotion Forum (Team E-Kansai) in partnership with METI-Kansai (Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). OCCI also cooperated with the Osaka municipal government in establishing the Osaka City Water & Environment Solutions Association (OWESA). The Water Group and OWESA jointly participated in the Water Expo held in Singapore, where they introduced and promoted excellent water-related technologies developed by Osaka municipal bodies and private businesses based in Osaka.

       Moreover, concerning our fifth project to “Open up Rising Nations’ Markets,” which is aimed at supporting development of sales channels in emerging economies, OCCI held workshops for SMEs planning to make their first attempt to expand their business into overseas markets. OCCI also organized business negotiation sessions by inviting overseas buyers. Any of these workshops and sessions attracted participation of a far greater number of companies than the pre-designated number of participants.