2025 New Year’s Remarks by Chairman YASUNAGA Tatsuo

January 8, 2025

Welcome to the New Year.
Allow me to offer my best wishes to one and all as 2025 gets under way.

This is the year in which Japan will host Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Expos have historically provided an outstanding opportunity for international exchange and cooperation amongst peoples. By showcasing the latest in technology and culture, it is sure to be an occasion when people from all over the world can learn from each other and deepen their mutual understanding. I, therefore, look forward to a wonderful Expo that offers a valuable chance to demonstrate hope for the future.

Last year, when I took up the position of chairman at the Japan Foreign Trade Council, I adopted the slogan “Exploring the Future with a Frontier Spirit.” It was precisely because we are in a world filled with uncertainty that I made it our mission to draw on a kind of frontier spirit, or animal spirit, to help forge a new future by pioneering uncharted domains. I also set three priority initiatives: Strengthen relations with the Global South, promote globalization within Japan, and improve the transparency of Shosha (diversified trading conglomerates).

This year, many foreign dignitaries are scheduled to visit Japan, including President Lula of Brazil and Prime Minister Modi of India. In August, the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) will be held in Yokohama. Furthermore, this year’s G20 summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and COP30 is due to be held in Belém, Brazil, further raising the profile of countries in the Global South.

Japan, with its declining population, can no longer feasibly sustain its economy alone. Instead, Japan must maintain and improve its economic vitality by building mutually complementary relationships with nations that are working to preserve and expand the free and open system of international trade and investment. Key among such nations are those countries in the Global South that are experiencing their “demographic dividend” periods and have entered a stage of high economic growth.

I also think it is important for Japan to take the initiative in going to the countries of the Global South, offering realistic solutions to their social problems, and drawing on its experience and expertise to develop these solutions into new business opportunities in partnership with those countries.

The Japan Foreign Trade Council engages in a wide range of activities, including communicating with governments in other countries, issuing policy proposals aimed at improving Japan’s business environment, and providing information to its members. This year we will continue to further step up our efforts as we dedicate ourselves to developing international business and deepening friendly relations.

I wish you all every success during the year to come.