Fumiya Kokubu
Chairperson
Japan has developed as a trading and technology-oriented nation and machinery exports, which account for 60% of total exports, play an extremely important role in that development. Since its establishment, JMC has deployed various operations to nurture Japanese machinery exports, in response to growth in the machinery industry and changes in global trading and market environments.
In the 1950s and 60s period of post-war reconstruction and high economic growth, JMC promoted exports and introduced measures for maintaining order in the export market. We strove to deal with trade friction in the 1970s and 80s period, which was characterized by our increased competitiveness in the export market. Then, in the 1990s, when the Cold War ended and the World Trade Organization (WTO) was launched, we worked hard to respond to the globalization of the world economy.
Since the early 2000s, the market has been increasingly liberalized thanks to bilateral and regional economic partnerships. We have also witnessed strong growth in emerging economies and an expansion in the machinery export market. Recently, however, the former free trade system has been facing difficulties against a backdrop of conflict between nations and concerns over economic security. Many point out that the WTO, which is responsible for building consensus among nations and resolving disputes, is proving to be dysfunctional and reforms are urgently required.
Furthermore, as demands for the formation of sustainable societies and economies increase, the importance of corporate responsibility is growing in various areas, such as decarbonization and the prevention of forced labor, and international efforts to achieve sustainable growth are taking concrete shape. On the other hand, the business environment for machinery exports is undergoing some major changes as the advancement of technology expands the possibilities for digital transformation (DX) of our societies and economies.
Against this backdrop, the Japanese machinery industry is expected not only to expand exports and increase overseas production, but also to adapt to significant change by addressing social issues such as the environment and human rights and strengthening its competitiveness through innovation.
As member companies continue to develop international operations and tackle these changes, JMC strives to promote the sustainable development of its members by nurturing operations that focus on trade, investment and market development measures; overseas environmental and product safety measures; export control measures; industry-specific promotional measures, such as encouraging the export of plants and infrastructure; and measures to counteract overseas risks, such as trade insurance business.
