Following is the gist of remarks made by Mr. Takashi Imai, Chairman, Keidanren, on the scheduled press conference following monthly Chairman and Vice Chairmen's Meeting on 13 November 2000. Translation is rush and tentative, and sequence of the gist does not necessarily coincide with words delivered.
Regarding the domestic politics, I believe economic measures put forward by Mr. Mori and reforms put forward by Mr. Kato could co-exist: Keidanren has been calling on the government towards this end. In any case Keidanren hopes that all-important laws under discussion at the current Diet session must be passed, and for this purpose I see there is no time for an immediate election.
Regarding the U. S. Presidential Election, I appreciated the way candidates brought out their own policies forward and debated in public to convince each individual voters. I do believe that Japan should burrow their ways to put policies forward. Of course, in case of Japan, the key policies should be social insurance and fiscal scheme under rapidly aging society.
On the topic of the government's IT promotion measures, I know that some say the government's five-year target is too far away. However, considering the amount of what could be done between now and the target date, I see the government approach is very realistic.
I do realize that problems surrounding insurance companies, paying out promised dividend out of their own pockets, are large. However, most of companies with worst troubles have already gone bankrupt. Insurance companies are doing their businesses in a very long period of time. So they should have kept reserves when interest rate was high so that under this low interest climate they needed not face today's crisis situation.