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Issue 17       [October 2007] 
                           OCCI e-Magazine
                http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html
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[CONTENTS, October 2007]

1. Promotion of Kansai International Airport  ~for more flights to meet future needs~

   ---OCCI Chairman NOMURA to Macau, Vice Chairman KATO to Seoul

2. GVF07 Events (International Cluster Exchange)

   ---Extensive Bio-business Exchange Activities developed

3. Meeting of International Medical Society in Osaka [Oct. 28-31, 2007]

4. Interview with Mr. Steve N. Iwamura, Partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 

5. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors

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1. For Promotion of Kansai International Airport, Visits made 
    by Chairman NOMURA to Macau, Vice Chairman KATO to Seoul 
      ~for more flights to meet future needs~

   With the opening on August 2, 2007 of another runway, Kansai International Airport is 
ready as a fully 24-hour operating airport to make great strides forward to serve as a gateway 
to Asia. The regional governments as well as the economic organizations are joining forces with 
the Airport to attract new or increased flights particularly from abroad.

   OCCI Chairman Nomura made a visit on September 7 to Air Macau Co., Ltd. to strongly ask for 
increase of direct flight services between Macau and the Airport, in view particularly of the recent 
rise of more than 30% of Japanese tourists to Macau, with such background as the "Historic Centre of 
Macau" having been listed in 2005 as a site on the World Heritage and also Macau's fast improved 
conventions / visitors-attracting facilities. The response from Air Macau was their expressed intention 
to increase the direct flights to 3 services (up to now 2) from October this year, together with the request 
for the support of our organizations and governments to facilitate their increased flight services.

   On September 11, Vice Chairman Kato visited Seoul to call on those at the Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. 
and Asiana Airlines Inc. to request, at the timing of aerial liberalization, for increased direct flights 
as well as for opening of their North American air-route via Kansai International Airport. Korean Air Lines 
mentioned the strong wishes of the main cities such as Taegu for increased services, and expressed their 
intention to study the chances to open regular flight services, closely watching future prospects. 
Asiana Airlines expressed their views, related to further use of the Airport, on their passenger / cargo 
North American flights (via the Airport) plan utilizing their 'beyond right'.

   In close cooperation with the regional economic world and governments, the Kansai International 
Airport Co., Ltd. continues the active campaign for increased use of the Airport.


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2. Global Venture Forum 2007 Events (for the Most Advanced Hi-tech; International Cluster Exchange)

   ---Extensive Bio-business Exchange Activities developed

   Promotion Committee of Global Business Opportunities (PCGBO, consisting of :OCCI, Osaka Securities 
Exchange Co., Ltd., Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City; with the secretariat based in OCCI) conducted 
on September 18 the European Bio Seminar and one-to-one business meetings in Osaka where participants 
from France and U.K. took part representing 21 bio-related agencies, institutes and venture enterprises.

   At this year's 3rd event of Global Venture Forum 2007 (GVF07), mainly companies (for services 
to support discovery of new drugs) introduced various aspects of European bio business and their 
business proposals. At the reception, Mr. M. Kato (OCCI Vice Chairman and Chairman PCGBO) made 
an address followed by a networking luncheon where 68 representatives of Japanese companies 
participated in the exchange. Among the 27 cases of business talks on one day giving significance 
to the event, a company proposed to positively study a tie-up as a partner in a clinical practice.

   From time to time, GVF events are conducted for announcements of business proposals and individual 
meetings, for a delegation of foreign companies visiting Japan that possess most advanced high technologies, 
information home appliances, etc. At every event, GVF offers a forum for contacts and exchange for transfers 
or innovation of technologies between mainly Osaka-based companies / research institutes and overseas 
high-tech companies, all eventually for creation of new businesses and opportunities for employment.

   On November 8, the 4th event of GVF will be held with 6 companies related with electronics, 
information telecommunications , etc. from Val d'Oise Departement (French County) participating.

* Promotion Committee of Global business Opportunities (http://www.gvf.ne.jp/index.html)
           
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3. Meeting of International Medical Society to be held in Osaka [Oct. 28-31, 2007]
     ---Apply now for Participation

   OCCI is offering cooperation for booths displays and other arrangements for the meeting of 
International Medical Society (Oct. 28-31, at the Osaka International Convention Center) for development 
of artificial organs and other most advanced studies on regenerative medicine and many other items.

   In view of the importance of joint efforts by industry / academic cooperation for the development 
of the most advanced medical treatments, an exhibition is also held displaying or introducing companies' 
products or technologies, and also, to encourage company representatives' participation, booths are set up 
for the "Forum for Industrialization of Next Generation Medical System" as their base, and a special 
meeting of the Forum will be simultaneously held on October 30.

   HOW TO APPLY:
   1. For participation all through the 4 days, apply at the reception on the first day.
       http://www2.convention.co.jp/jsao-ifao2007/e/registration-e.html

   2. For one-day participation: If you apply (by Oct.25) for the special meeting of the forum for 
      Industrialization of Next Generation Medical System (to be held as one session of the program on Oct. 30), 
      ONE DAY PASS will be issued as a special offer.
   For application or inquiry, please contact
   Ms. A. Makiyama, OCCI, Economy and Industry Div. (makiyama@osaka.cci.or.jp) 

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4. Interview with Mr. Steve N. Iwamura, Partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
(former president of the Kansai Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan)

      Since March 2007, we have been holding interviews, mainly through some written questions, 
with the Osaka/Kansai-based representatives of Consulates-General/Consulates, foreign companies 
or other offices to find out their constructive views on issues concerned with the Osaka/Kansai region.

   With Mr. Iwamura's permission, OCCI e-Magazine is pleased to present his views:

1) How long is it since you assumed your current office/position in Kansai? 

   I began my career with Deloitte in 1984, originally as a certified public accountant, 
doing both audit and tax services for Japanese companies in Hawaii. The big investment 
boom from Japan swept into Hawaii a couple of years later. It was a good opportunity 
to learn. I was very busy doing all the work, while my partner went golfing everyday. 
In 1990, I transferred to the Deloitte's Japanese affiliate Tohmatsu, to learn Japanese 
language and business practices. The bubble burst almost as soon as I got here. I decided 
to stay on with Tohmatsu. I cut my lifeline to Deloitte and became a consultant with
Tohmatsu, advising high-level executives at Japanese headquarters regarding their overseas 
business transactions and activities. I became a partner in 1999. From 1996-1999, I was 
also president of the Kansai Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. 

2) What are the merits and demerits or your expectations concerning 
Osaka's business environment?

   The first day I arrived in Osaka, I stood at the window of a tall building, and 
looked out at the city. For some reason, I did not feel any of the apprehension I expected 
myself to have being in a foreign place for the first time. In fact, I felt very comfortable. 
That feeling has always stayed with me, and it is probably the biggest reason, I have never 
moved to Tokyo like so many others have done. 

   That first week, a retired Japanese executive told me about the importance of fate and 
meeting people. How such people you meet can impact your life. This has certainly proved 
true for me. I would say that Kansai executives are easy to talk to, they look into your 
character, and do business on a very human-to-human basis. This is probably one of the 
things I like best about Osaka, and I have been blessed to meet many good people during 
my life here. 

   On the other hand, I wish I could meet more top level business people of character, 
who would allow me to help them internationalize their outlook, their interaction with 
their overseas subsidiaries, their business with overseas customers, and to grow their 
business on a global level. 

   Even after all these years, it is still not easy for me to find such opportunities.

3) What are your expectations for the OCCI e-magazine.

   Japan is the most literate society in the world, and since my Japanese reading is 
far slower than my English reading, I believe there is a need for most foreigners to 
get access to relevant printed information in English. Business people also need 
information on relevant business information, that is not available in print.  
What I want to see in OCCI e-magazine is short summaries on key business movements 
that are occurring in Kansai. 

   For example, I did not know of the repeal of the factory location laws in 2002, 
and the ramifications it had for the revival of factory and distribution center 
construction around Osaka and Kobe ports these last few years. I also did not know 
that the Japanese government's emphasis on bi-lateral negotiations for flight access, 
and the lack of deregulation in this area, is one of the major reasons why Kansai Airport 
does not have enough airline routes. Neither was I fully aware on a real time basis of 
the extent of real estate acquisitions that occurred in the Kansai by various private 
equity funds in recent years. 

   Business people need practical and insightful information and I cannot think of 
a more appropriate source for that information than OCCI. Please write things in 
the e-magazine that make us say "wow. When is the next issue?" Of course, it is hard 
to make that happen all at once, but as a start, maybe the e-magazine can include 
a clipping service of business articles, especially those related to Kansai. I think 
if you dialogue with your readers, you will find that we are all looking for market 
intelligence and insights that are relevant to our business and work. 


4) What are the most impressive happenings or events that you experienced  whether 
in private or public capacity, during your stay in Osaka/Kansai?

   That event has still not happened yet. What I want to see is Kansai governments, 
economic organizations and the private sector all come together to start developing 
strategic economic policies that are applied with perseverance and continuity. Policies 
that let Kansai compete and interact globally, based on its identity, on its uniqueness,
and in ways in which Kansai can be number one. 

   I would like to see leaders emerge, who feel the need to make a difference, to take 
the necessary risks, often at personal sacrifice to themselves. I believe Kansai should 
find additional ways to build upon our existing base of consumer electronics, solar cells, 
pharma and bio, sporting goods, etc. 

   I also believe that there is a strong need to build more MBA and entrepreneur-type 
programs in the Kansai, and to foster a venture capital environment, where good CEOs and 
technologies can be funded and supported, whether it be a spin-out from a big company 
or a start-up by a university student. The success of venture companies is one of the 
keys to success. 

   I can tell you from personal experience, that raising start-ups is possible. Frustrated by 
the lack of movement in Kansai, in 2002, I found a 29-year CEO in the U.S., matched him up with 
large companies in Kansai and Tokyo hungry for technology, found $2million of funding from 
a Japanese venture capital fund, all of which led to this U.S. company becoming a NASDAQ-listed 
company in 2005. When you get the right people together, anything can happen. 

   My hope is to see things like this happen in the Kansai.
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5. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors

*  September 26 (Wed)	Mr. Oh Young-whan, Consul General
			Consulate-General of The Republic of Korea

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