Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on Inauguration of Kishida Cabinet

October 4, 2021

The new Kishida cabinet was inaugurated today. It includes both veteran politicians with a deep knowledge of policy and mid-career and young politicians with a strong desire for reform. I believe this is a suitable team to steer Japan through a difficult period in which many challenges are arising both at home and abroad.

As we prepare for the post-pandemic world, I urge the Kishida administration to make every effort to balance its COVID-19 countermeasures with steps to revitalize socioeconomic activities. Japan will also be counting on its new leaders to advance the key policies initiated by the Suga administration, such as achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and promoting digitalization.

Japan’s Shosha industry remains highly optimistic that the country’s leaders will take steps to strengthen supply chains and otherwise bolster its economy and national security. The newly established position of Minister for Economic Security is a promising sign and should prove pivotal to progress on both of those fronts. The JFTC looks forward to Japan playing a leading role in connecting international economies. By backing WTO reforms, stepping up negotiations to expand membership in the CPTPP and demonstrating other commitments to enhance the global flow of goods and services, Japan can embrace that role as a flag bearer for free trade.

Much of this rests with the leadership capabilities of our new prime minister, but I am confident that his wealth of political experience will serve him well in the years ahead.