Chairman Okuda's Press Conference
April 11, 2005
Following is the gist of remarks made by Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman, Keidanren at a scheduled press conference following monthly Chairman and Vice Chairmen's meeting on 11 April 2005. Translation is rush and tentative, and sequence of the gist does not necessarily coincide with words delivered.
(On shuffle in - Keidanren top executives - announcement basis)
List of Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Board of Councillors were nominated (to be approved on May 26, 2005). Titles are as of April 11, 2005 (* denote new appointment).
- Chairman of the Board of Councillors
- Yoichi MORISHITA
- Chairman of the Board, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Vice Chairmen of the Board of Councillors
- Takahide SAKURAI
- Advisor, The Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company
- Osamu HIRASHIMA
- Chairman of the Board, Taisei Corporation
- Mototsugu ITO
- President and CEO, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
- Morio IKEDA
- President & CEO, Shiseido Company, Ltd.
- Yoshihiko MIYAUCHI
- Chairman and CEO, ORIX Corporation
- Fumiaki WATARI
- President and CEO, Nippon Oil Corporation
- Ichiro TANIGUCHI
- Chairman, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Kunio EGASHIRA
- President & CEO, Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.
- Hiromichi IWASA
- President and CEO, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
- Taizo NISHIMURO *
- Chairman of the Board, Toshiba Corporation
- Junichi UJIIE *
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nomura Holdings, Inc.
(On announcing change in secretariat executive)
Yoshio Nakamura, Senior Managing Director, will be nominated to Acting Director General on May 26.
(On economic status)
High crude oil price is a risk factor, but unless the price goes up further, Japan's economy should recover in the second half of 2005 with China and the U. S. being the driving engines.
(On anti-Japanese demonstration in China)
Seriousness of these demonstrations is not yet known, and it should not affect Japanese companies' China strategies now. Both nations' governments should remain cool and discuss on issues to resolve these issues.
(On introducing daylight saving time)
Effect on anti-global warming might be small, but introduction of daylight saving time has a symbolic meaning towards how Japan would save energy. For this reason, introduction of daylight saving time is a favorable option.
(On implementation of anti-M&A measures)
Each company must consider and decide how they introduce anti-M&A measures.
(On receiving non-Japanese workers)
There are no concrete numerical figures, but creation of a broad framework is important.