Keidanren Report (September 2015)
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Report September 2015 010_8094158242709.indd 2 2015/09/30 14:51:31 01 Chairman’s Message Japan stands at a crucial juncture in its effort to rid itself of deflation and achieve tangible economic revitalization. The political leadership, the bureaucracy, and the private sector must deploy all the policies and resources at their disposal at this vital moment to ensure that the effort bears fruit. Keidanren, for its part, regards this year as the one in which the first steps towards the realization of the economy and the society as described in our vision statement, Toward the Creation of a More Affluent and Vibrant Japan, will be taken. We will, in addition to paving the way toward the elimination of deflation and toward economic revitalization, work with all our strength to address the many key policy issues that face us. Keidanren’s Policy for this fiscal year lists these issues and the steps we will take to tackle them. There are several priority areas. These include, fiscal consolidation, including achieving primary balance surplus by fiscal 2020, ensuring a stable and economically viable energy supply, revitalizing regional economies through stronger collaboration with regional economic groups, addressing the problem of population decline and encouraging the active participation of women in the workforce as a strategy for growth, and engaging in economic diplomacy with a view to boosting economic exchange with countries around the world. We will also continue to contribute actively to the post-earthquake reconstruction effort and to prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. We will also continue to carry out reforms within Table of Contents Keidanren itself, as we work to consolidate further the trust and expectations placed in our organization by the wider community. P.01 Chairman’s Message P.10 Innovation Living up to our motto, “Policy and Action,” Keidanren P.02 Social, Economic and Political Trends and P.11 Globalization the Main Activities of KEIDANREN will continue to actively make policy recommendations P.12 Encouraging Women’s Active Participation focused on national interest and the future, and, acting P.04 KEIDANREN’s Vision in the Workforce as a Keidanren that is active and involved, will Toward the Creation of a More Affluent P.13 Creating Attractive Cities and Revitalizing energetically work with all relevant parties to ensure that and Vibrant Japan Regional Economies those recommendations become reality. I hope we can P.06 Fiscal 2015 KEIDANREN’s Policy P.14 Establishing a Solid Foundation Enabling rely on your continued assistance and support. the Economy to Grow Strongly Policy & Action TOPICS P.15 Taking on Challenge of Global P.08 Accelerating Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Environmental and Energy Issues Chairman and Realizing a New Tohoku P.16 DATA P.09 Lifting the Economy Out of Deflation SAKAKIBARA Sadayuki 010_8094158242709.indd 3-1 2015/10/08 15:46:50 02 Social, Economic and Political Trends and the Main Activities of KEIDANREN 03 October June Three Japanese-born scientists win G7 Summit the Nobel Prize in physics for the (Elmau, Germany) invention of blue light-emitting diodes The Basic Policies for Economic 2014 2015 and Fiscal Management and November Reform 2015, the 2015 revision Japan-China Summit Meeting is April June January March April of the Japan Revitalization held for the first time in three years Strategy, and the Regulatory The consumption tax rate Tomioka Silk Mill and Spring wage Four years since the Great East The national Reform Work Plan are approved December rises from 5% to 8% Related Sites added to negotiations start Japan Earthquake budget for by the Cabinet the World Heritage List The House of Representatives (Major wage fiscal 2015 is increase achieved Outline of Measures for Society approved The Nikkei Stock Average election is held. The ruling July for the second with Decreasing Birthrate is exceeds the 20,000-yen level parties secure over two thirds approved by the Cabinet Japan - U.S. for the first time in 15 years of the Lower House seats consecutive year) Sites of Japan’s Meiji Summit Industrial Revolution The Hokuriku Shinkansen starts Meeting operations between Nagano added to the World (Washington Heritage List and Kanazawa D.C., U.S.A.) Events in Japan Activities of Keidanren June July October December January May July Sadayuki Sakakibara Visits to disaster-stricken Meetings with Chinese Meeting with Mr. Announcement of Keidanren’s Meeting with President Park Keidanren mission to the succeeds Hiromasa areas in the Tohoku region leaders, including Vice Chang-Soo Huh, vision Toward the Creation of Geun-He of the Republic of Korea United States Yonekura, becoming 13th Premier Wang Yang (Beijing) Chairman of the a More Affluent and Vibrant Chairman of Keidanren Federation of Korean Japan Together with the heads of business September Industries, and others associations of the G7 states, delivers the (Seoul) Communique to German Chancellor Organizes the World Assembly March Merkel at the B7 Summit (Berlin) for Women in Tokyo Organizes the Olympics and Paralympics Business Council With Mr. Suda, Mayor of Onagawa consisting of members including Town the heads of the three major With Virginia Governor McAuliffe economic organizations Keidanren mission Joint statement for the accompanies Prime creation of a New Tohoku Minister Abe on his visit to With Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe; April is issued in cooperation Ms. Lagarde, Managing Director of IMF; (Photo provided by BDI/Christian Kruppa) Latin America Ms. Blair, wife of former UK Prime Keidanren mission to Indonesia with the Tohoku Economic Minister; and Ms. Kennedy, Ambassador meets with H.E. Ir. H. Joko Widodo, Federation of the United States to Japan President of Indonesia June August Chairman Sakakibara’s second year of office Meeting with Japanese astronaut Mr. Koichi Wakata (from left to right) With Prime Minister Abe and Mexican President Peña Nieto With Mr. Takahashi, Chairman of the Tohoku Economic Federation 010_8094158242709.indd 2-3 2015/10/08 15:46:53 04 KEIDANREN’s Vision Innovation & Globalization 05 Toward the Creation of a More Affluent and Vibrant Japan Issues for Achieving Four National Attributes presented in the Keidanren’s vision Accelerate recovery from the Succeed in hosting Overall policy Nurture new core industries Great East Japan Earthquake the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and issues that can lead the new era and create1 a new Tohoku Paralympic 2 Games 3 Individual policy issues A solid foundation enabling the Affluent and vibrant national life 1 3 economy to grow strongly Promote science, technology and innovation Ensure a business environment on an equal policy footing with international standards Reform the corporate tax system Incorporate overseas vitality Rebuild energy policies Formulate new trade strategies Improve critical infrastructure Promote infrastructure systems overseas Achieve fiscal health Create lively working environments for everyone Comprehensive reform of social security and Promote diverse ways of working tax systems Promote use of women in the workforce Vitalize financial and capital markets Promote use of young and elderly people in the workforce Work for development of human resources, regeneration of education and university reform Utilize information and communications technology Work for disaster prevention and reduction and national resilience Promote start of new businesses Work for administrative reform Establish “Japan Brand” Promote electronic administration Chairman Sakakibara hands over the Keidanren’s vision to Prime Minister Abe (January 2015) Introduce regional government system called “doshu-sei” which will contribute to formation of broader economic blocs In January 2015, Keidanren released its vision As we work to achieve these four national statement, Toward the Creation of a More Affluent attributes, we will strive to establish a society where A population of not less than 100 Contributing to the prosperity of the and Vibrant Japan. hard work is rewarded. Through our efforts, we hope 2 million living in attractive cities and 4 world by providing solutions to localities global problems Japan being poor in natural resources, the keys to that Japan becomes a nation in which the younger its revitalization are innovation and globalization. generation can take pride, exercise their can-do Promote measures to address falling number Contribute to the fields of environment, of births resources, water and energy This vision puts forth four attributes that Japan spirit, and carve out a future full of hope, as well as a should possess by 2030: 1 Affluent and vibrant nation trusted and respected by the world. Develop and vitalize local economies Contribute to measures for disaster Utilize vitality of cities and regions prevention and reduction national life; 2 A population of not less than 100 The vision presents specifics and details on issues Reform structure of agriculture Contribute to the health and medical fields million living in attractive cities and localities; 3 A which the government, businesses, and people of Promote tourism solid foundation enabling the economy to grow Japan should focus on in order to achieve these Contribute to the eradication of absolute Enhance use of foreign manpower strongly; and 4 Contributing to the prosperity of the attributes. poverty, hunger and epidemics world by providing solutions to global issues. 010_8094158242709.indd 4-5 2015/10/08 15:46:55 06 Fiscal 2015 KEIDANREN’s Policy 07 Creating a More Affluent