ID :
14904
Tue, 08/05/2008 - 14:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/14904
The shortlink copeid
Promotion of economic growth 'biggest mission': trade chief Nikai+
TOKYO, Aug 5 Kyodo - Toshihiro Nikai said Monday his biggest mission as Japan's new economy, trade and industry minister is achieving national growth by all means possible at a time when the global economy is in near recession.
''I believe the ministry's biggest mission is achieving economic growth for the country,'' Nikai said in his first interview with Kyodo News and other media after assuming the new post on Saturday.
He said Japanese companies and households have been hit hard by recent rises in prices of crude oil and raw materials.
Nikai, 69, said he and industry ministry officials will cooperate with other ministries and be ready to give up their summer holidays to come up with a set of measures aimed at helping Japanese companies, especially those small in size, to be less affected by record-high commodity prices.
''The current budget is very tight...So, if necessary, I think we have to pay from a reserve fund and may have to establish a supplementary budget'' for the measures, Nikai said, although he declined to elaborate on the size of this possible extra budget.
''I hope we can achieve maximum results with a small budget,'' he said.
As to his leadership in international matters, he said the ministry, which has the natural resources and energy agency under its umbrella, will continue to take the leading role in the country's ''resource diplomacy.''Akira Amari, his predecessor, and senior officials of the ministry had traveled to many resource-rich countries in the Middle East, South America and former republics of the Soviet Union to secure supplies of minerals vital for Japan's manufacturing industries.
Nikai, who once served as trade minister for one year through September 2006, suggested that deepening ties with African countries will be on his list of things to do.
''I believe African countries are very important partners for our resource diplomacy,'' Nikai said. ''We have to renew our recognition (of them).''For Japan, which greatly relies on exports for its economic growth, Nikai also said it will be critical to increase the number of bilateral free trade agreements and contribute to the successful completion of the Doha Round talks under the World Trade Organization.
Nikai voiced regret over the failure last week of key WTO talks in Geneva.
He said he will write soon to his counterparts from major trading powers to tell them that Japan is committed to making more efforts to conclude the Doha Round process.
For a successful outcome, he said the country must first narrow the differences between the trade ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which is basically reluctant to lower trade barriers in the light of protecting domestic agricultural products.
''I think there is no way we can become a mediator or a leading player on the international scene, filled with conflicting interests,'' if Japan does not have a unified stance, Nikai said.
''I believe the ministry's biggest mission is achieving economic growth for the country,'' Nikai said in his first interview with Kyodo News and other media after assuming the new post on Saturday.
He said Japanese companies and households have been hit hard by recent rises in prices of crude oil and raw materials.
Nikai, 69, said he and industry ministry officials will cooperate with other ministries and be ready to give up their summer holidays to come up with a set of measures aimed at helping Japanese companies, especially those small in size, to be less affected by record-high commodity prices.
''The current budget is very tight...So, if necessary, I think we have to pay from a reserve fund and may have to establish a supplementary budget'' for the measures, Nikai said, although he declined to elaborate on the size of this possible extra budget.
''I hope we can achieve maximum results with a small budget,'' he said.
As to his leadership in international matters, he said the ministry, which has the natural resources and energy agency under its umbrella, will continue to take the leading role in the country's ''resource diplomacy.''Akira Amari, his predecessor, and senior officials of the ministry had traveled to many resource-rich countries in the Middle East, South America and former republics of the Soviet Union to secure supplies of minerals vital for Japan's manufacturing industries.
Nikai, who once served as trade minister for one year through September 2006, suggested that deepening ties with African countries will be on his list of things to do.
''I believe African countries are very important partners for our resource diplomacy,'' Nikai said. ''We have to renew our recognition (of them).''For Japan, which greatly relies on exports for its economic growth, Nikai also said it will be critical to increase the number of bilateral free trade agreements and contribute to the successful completion of the Doha Round talks under the World Trade Organization.
Nikai voiced regret over the failure last week of key WTO talks in Geneva.
He said he will write soon to his counterparts from major trading powers to tell them that Japan is committed to making more efforts to conclude the Doha Round process.
For a successful outcome, he said the country must first narrow the differences between the trade ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which is basically reluctant to lower trade barriers in the light of protecting domestic agricultural products.
''I think there is no way we can become a mediator or a leading player on the international scene, filled with conflicting interests,'' if Japan does not have a unified stance, Nikai said.
