Remarks of Consul-General Hidenobu Sobashima at the Victoria-Japan Business Engagement Dinner on Monday 30 September 2013
The Hon Dr Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria,
The Hon Louise Asher, Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Minister for Tourism and Events, and Minister for Employment and Trade,
The Hon Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, and Minister for Water,
The Hon Gordon Rich-Phillips, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Technology, and Minister for Aviation Industry,
The Hon Peter Hall, Minister for Higher Education and Skills, and Minister for the Teaching Profession,
Mrs Inga Peulich, Parliamentary Secretary for Education,
Mr Craig Ondarchie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier,
Ambassador John Richardson, State Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Victoria,
Mr Murray McLean, former Ambassador of Australia to Japan,
Sir Rod Eddington, President and Members of the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee,
Mr Max Yasuda, President and Members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Melbourne,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I appreciate this opportunity to say a few words at the Victoria-Japan Business Engagement Dinner.
First, on behalf of the Japanese communities in Victoria, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Government of Victoria for hosting us.
Ever since I assumed my responsibility here about two years ago, I have been selling myself as a Consul-General in the world’s most liveable city.
I would like to congratulate the city and people of Melbourne for having obtained the world’s best liveability ranking for three consecutive years, and thank Melbourne and Victoria for providing us with the admirable stability, environment and culture, education, health care and infrastructure.
In connection with the liveability ranking, I have repeatedly stated on various occasions that perhaps the activities of Japanese companies with their Australian partners and the cultural programs organized by Japanese residents with the participation of Australians here are also contributing to this liveability that is the world’s best, economically and culturally, in this multicultural society.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is promoting Abenomics consisting of ①aggressive monetary policy, ②flexible fiscal policy and ③new growth strategy named “Japan Revitalization Strategy – Japan Is Back”, as his “three arrows” so-to-speak, to get out of the deflation from which Japan has suffered for two decades.
The Japan Revitalization Strategy consists of ①Plan for the Revitalization of the Japanese Industry, ②Strategic Market Creation Plan and ③Strategy of Global Outreach.
The Plan for the Revitalization of the Japanese Industry has measures for the six areas of ①structural reform, ②employment and human resources development, ③science and technology, ④ICT, ⑤business hub, and⑥ SMEs.
The Strategic Market Creation Plan has the four objectives of ①extending the nation’s healthy life expectancy, ②realizing clean energy demand and supply, ③developing next-generation safe, convenient and economical infrastructure, and ④building regional communities that use their unique local resources to appeal to the world.
The Strategy of Global Outreach has the three aims of ①establishing strategic commercial relations and promoting economic partnerships, including the Japan-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the TPP, ②implementing strategic initiatives to capture global markets, including exportation of infrastructure and promotion of the Japan brand, and ③developing funding and human resource bases, including expanding incoming and outgoing students, that support the growth of Japan.
Thus Japan is determined to achieve economic growth again.
Japan and Australia and Japan and Victoria are long standing economic partners of mutual complementarity.
Last year at our national day reception, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry displayed exhibits entitled “Made in Victoria” which showed that the 21 Japanese companies participated in the exhibition alone contributed to the employment of as many as 8778 people in Victoria.
I look forward to another impressive exhibition of economic ties between Japan and Victoria next December by the JCCIM.
Looking ahead, I hope that, with Japan’s economic growth returning, the trade and investment relations between Japan and Victoria will expand again.
Against this background, the Premier’s decision to lead a Victorian trade mission to Japan next month is quite timely and highly valued.
Also I am much grateful to the Hon Dr Napthine for hosting this Business Engagement Dinner for the first time with the Japanese business people now.
In conclusion, I hope that this dinner will prove also valuable to the Premier and the Victorian Government in addition to the Japanese business community here, and wish the Victorian trade mission to Japan success with tangible outcomes.
For this purpose, I and my Consulate, in cooperation with the Japanese business community here, are determined to do our best.
Thank you.