************************************************************************* Issue 22 [April 2008] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ************************************************************************* [CONTENTS, April 2008] 1. Chairman's Address for fiscal 2008 2. Website introducing "2008 G8 Finance Ministers Meeting, Osaka" to be held in June ---for worldwide attention on Osaka's hospitalities and information 3. From the "Kitchen of Japan" to "Osaka as the Capital of Food" ---great expectations for enhanced 'brand-name power' 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors ========================================================================= 1. OCCI Chairman's Address for FY 2008 (April 2008- March 2009) (The following is a summary of OCCI Chairman A. Nomura's address to the Ordinary General Assembly of OCCI Councilors held on March 27, 2008.) Looking back over what happened in Osaka -Kansai in the past year, we realize anew the effects of revitalization; with the location set for the state-of-the-art manufacturing complex in the Bay area, progress in the redevelopment of the city-center, foreign tourists to visit Osaka exceeding 2 million, along with the opening of Runway B at the Kansai International Airport, etc. We strongly feel, however, the need to further strengthen our measures to reinvigorate the regional economy, in collaboration with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. At the beginning of FY2008, we have set forth our new 3-year-plan, of which the main points of focus are: 1) New projects are planned for accelerated promotion of 'Engine Industries' for further back-up of Osaka-Kansai economic revitalization. More specifically, we aim to develop projects to newly promote environment-friendly products-making industries, or to promote urban style tourism to totally offer Osaka's attractions for tourists. We will also further promote projects to accelerate innovations of service industries, as well as those to strengthen support to environment / energy-saving businesses for development in the Asian regions. 2) Next is to energetically carry out activities to make policy proposals and official requests. Such proposals and requests are hard for individual companies to make, and it is for economic organizations to execute as our important roles. We will continue with our efforts to make timely and effective representation for various policy proposals concerning the budgets, taxation or those for consolidation of infrastructure such as the airports, harbors / seaports, roads or highways, etc. 3) Last is further strengthening of our organizational foundation. OCCI celebrates this year its 130th anniversary of the founding, and we owe this long history of growth to the continued endeavors by all concerned for reform to meet the needs of the times. We will continue to aim for an 'indispensable' economic organization, not just a convenient one. ======================================================================== 2. Website introducing "2008 G8 Finance Ministers Meeting, Osaka" to be held in June ---for worldwide attention on Osaka's hospitalities and information The 2008 G8 Summit will be held [July 7 (Mon) - 9 (Wed)] on the lakeside of Tohya-ko in Hokkaido. Prior to the Summit, a number of meetings of G8 cabinet ministers will be held in various parts of Japan, with the Finance Ministers Meeting to be conducted in Osaka on June 13 (Fri) / 14 (Sat) at the Osaka International Convention Center. The events to be held in Kansai are; the Foreign Ministers Meeting (June 26/27) in Kyoto and the Environment Ministers Meeting (May 24/26) in Kobe. Here in Osaka, "Osaka Promotion Committee for the 2008 G8 Finance Ministers Meeting" has been formed to support the Summit for its success, in welcoming to Osaka the G8 Finance Ministers and the media, as well as in spreading worldwide information on Osaka-Kansai. The recently made website in English is accessible through: *Osaka Promotion Committee for the 2008 G8 Finance Ministers Meeting (http://www.summit2008osaka.jp/english/index.html) ======================================================================== 3. From the "Kitchen of Japan" to "Osaka as the Capital of Food" ---great expectations for enhanced 'brand-name power' We at OCCI set up in February 2007 'Osaka Great-Variety Food-brands Project Team' consisting of those from industry, trade, government and organizations concerned as a part of our 'Plan to Create Liveliness in Osaka', to clarify the current status of food in Osaka and the tasks imposed, as well as to propose a vision for Osaka's food to aim for. An overall report has been completed after putting in order various projects planned for realization. Based on this report, "Conference on Strategy for Osaka as Capital of Food" (tentatively named) will be set up anew, to enhance the comprehensive brands-images of Osaka's food, with Osaka's government bodies, economic organizations and food industries collaborating to respectively share, coordinate and cooperate in the work to promote projects. From the Edo period (1603-1867) down, Osaka thrived as the 'kitchen of the nation' and was well-known also as the gKuidaore-no-machih (town to bring financial ruin by extravagance in food, and Osaka has accumulated food-related culture with incomparably widespread periphery including dining out, shops handling processed food, kitchen utensils, etc. As the birthplace of not only 'rice omelets' and 'kitsune noodles' but also instant 'cup noodles' and conveyer-belt sushi, Osaka retains food culture of great variety. As a project at hand for, (tentatively)"Conference on Strategy for Osaka as Capital of Food", we will coin phrases to PR the food of Osaka, make a logotype, nurture food-related human resources, or develop goods with food taken in for tourists etc., which we will take up one after another. We will also do our best to send overseas enough information on our food culture. * Small Business Promotion Division: Tel 06-6944-6493 ======================================================================== 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors * April 4 (Fri) Ms. Hazel McCALLION, Mayor City of Mississauga of Ontario, Canada Mr. Gordon A. KRANTZ, Mayor Town of Milton of Ontario, Canada * April 19 (Sat) Mr. Yang Jiechi, Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China ========================================================================