Remarks of Consul-General Hidenobu Sobahsima at Osaka Business Promotion Seminar on 4 September 2013
Councillor Kevin Louey of Melbourne City Council,
Mr Ryuichi Murakami, Vice Mayor of Osaka,
Mr Teruo Minobe, President and Councillors of Osaka City Council,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a resident here, I would like to welcome the delegation from Osaka headed by Vice Mayor Murakami and President Minobe to Melbourne.
While we should congratulate Melbourne for being the world’s most liveable city for the third year running, Osaka is also a city for appreciation on many respects.
As mentioned by Vice Mayor Murakami and Councillor Louey, Osaka has the sister-city relationship with Melbourne for 35 years.
While Japan’s capital Tokyo is the center of East Japan, Osaka is the center of West Japan.
Under the leadership of Mayor Toru Hashimoto, the planning of new Mega City Osaka is under way, and the city plans to bring about high added values and innovation, to make Osaka a growing creative global city, benefitting from growths of Asian economies.
President Minobe who is present here today commits in his message uploaded on the website of Osaka City Council, to explain and accountable to the residents in Osaka, the issues and discussions on policies, measures and projects.
Against this background, this seminar should be an interesting occasion.
I hope you will all enjoy this seminar.
Thank you.