I wish to express my warm greetings to all of you as we begin 2010.

The general election in last summer led to a change of government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Hatoyama, I and fellow members of the Cabinet will join forces and make our utmost efforts to duly and speedily implement every policy we pledged so that we can eventually meet the public’s trust and expectations. I would like to ask for your continued support and cooperation this year.

With the employment situation and the business climate for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remaining severe, the Japanese economy is still suffering. Although certain economic indicators are showing signs of recovery, they have yet to reach high enough levels. In addition, there is concern about another downturn in the economy due to deflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and other factors.
On December 8, 2009 the government formulated the "Emergency Economic Countermeasures for Future Growth and Security, " a policy package centered on employment, the environment and the economy. The package-worth ¥24.4 trillion in total, of which ¥7.2 trillion is at the government's expense-emphasizes substantial measures, such as strengthening employment support for new graduates, facilitating financing for SMEs, and extending and expanding the eco-point system and the eco-car subsidy scheme. The government will formulate a second supplementary budget to weather the current difficulties and will carry out these measures promptly.

While implementing these short-term economic measures, Japan needs to establish a new growth strategy in order to achieve steady economic growth over the medium to long term.
The domestic and global situation is undergoing major change. Japan is experiencing the aging of its population and a declining birthrate, while the world sees rapid development of Asian countries and faces global warming and competition to secure natural resources. Now is the time for the government to chart a reliable roadmap to the future, a roadmap to creating demand in Japan and abroad and securing new jobs.
With these challenges in mind, after taking office, I intensively discussed a new growth strategy with my staff. The results were incorporated into the framework of a government-wide growth strategy, which was constructed at the end of last year.
With an eye toward 2020, I believe that Japan should have a willingness to incorporate the vitality of growing Asia and to find opportunities in actions to halt global warming. With this mindset, the government should give top priority to taking concrete measures to create a society where people can enjoy affluence in their lives. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will identify measures that can be immediately launched so that they will be reflected in the FY 2010 budget, while taking action to enact necessary legislation.
Vitalizing SMEs, which account for about 70% of employment in Japan, is high on the agenda for the government. In light of the current severe conditions, METI will make every possible effort to support them, including the facilitation of financing and the enforcement of fair subcontracting practices. On the other hand, SMEs aggressively and boldly seeking opportunities will be granted aid in their attempts to expand the market or enter new fields.

In the area of natural resources and energy, attention will be concentrated on, besides securing stable supply, establishing energy policies that coordinate with global warming countermeasures as two sides of the same coin.
Toward this goal, METI will powerfully promote resource and energy diplomacy, such as strengthening relations with resource-producing countries and forming international energy partnerships. Domestically, METI will make an all-out effort to facilitate the introduction of renewable energy sources, for example, by expanding the buyback program for photovoltaic generation and demonstrating a smart grid.
To achieve both a stable supply of energy and a low-carbon society, METI will steadily continue the promotion of nuclear power generation and the nuclear fuel cycle with safety ensured as a vital precondition, while seeking public understanding and confidence.

Japan has been leading international discussion on ways to combat global warming, with an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the 1990 level by 2020. It is imperative that the premise on which this commitment is based be met-establishment of a fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate and agreement on ambitious targets by all the major economies. The recent Copenhagen Accord was a major step toward this. METI will strive to construct a new, single international framework that meet the premise set out by Japan.

Fostering innovation is essential to balancing environmental conservation and economic growth. To accelerate the development and dissemination of innovative technologies, such as carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), METI will bring forward R&D and improve the protection of intellectual property, including ‘green’ patents. METI will also work toward spreading Japan’s environmental and energy technologies across the world with an eye toward reducing worldwide emissions and increasing the Japanese industry’s international competitiveness.

Our trade policy will highlight efforts to establish an "East Asian community." This year Japan will chair APEC. METI will lead new initiatives to pursue growth and integration of the Asia-Pacific region, including the formulation of an APEC-wide growth strategy and discussions on the roadmap to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
Opposing moves toward protectionism and promoting free trade are crucial to the Japanese economy. METI will actively take part in WTO and EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiations. With respect to the Doha Round, negotiations with other countries will be accelerated, with a view to concluding it by the end of this year.

In 2010, by responsibly implementing these measures, METI will strive to develop and grow Japan’s economy and industry and to make Japan a society where people can have high hopes for the future. I would like to conclude my New Year’s message by praying for the happiness and health of all of you.

• Page top

• Speeches
• Publications & pamphlets

• Statistics
• White Papers & Reports
• Press Releases
• METI related Laws