Background to the alliance establishment
The world economy is currently facing the dual issues of global warming problems
and the unprecedentedly high prices of natural resources. The key to resolving these
issues lies with the promotion of energy conservation measures and the introduction of
new energy sources.
Against this background, there is an increasing need for Japanese energy
conservation technology and new energy technology, which is recognized as being at
the highest level in the world. Requests have been received for Japan to share this
technology equally with the world from the viewpoint of contributing to the well-being of
the planet.
However, in order to effectively deal with the issues in a market economy, it is
indispensable to have strong cooperation between the business world and government.
For this purpose, it was decided that the "Japanese Business Alliance for Smart Energy
Worldwide" should be established as a core parent organization, and the founders'
meeting of this alliance was held on July 2, 2008.
The founders consist of Fujio Mitarai, Chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan
Business Federation) and Chairman of Canon Inc., Masaharu Shibata, Co-chairman of
the Committee on Energy and Resources at Nippon Keidanren and Chairman of NGK
Insulators, Ltd., Makoto Kawamura, Representative of the Japan Photovoltaic Energy
Association and President of Kyocera Corporation, Motoyuki Oka, Co-chairman of the
Committee on Energy and Resources at Nippon Keidanren and Chairman of Sumitomo
Corporation, Nobuya Minami, Chairman of the Energy Conservation Center, Japan and
Corporate Adviser to Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc., Shoei Utsuda, President of
Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Mikio Sasaki, Chairman of Mitsubishi Corporation, Masataka Shimizu,
President of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc., Fujio Cho, Chairman of Toyota Motor
Corporation, Kazuo Tsukuda, Chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kunio
Nakamura, Chairman of Panasonic Corporation, Kazuo Furukawa, President of Hitachi,
Ltd., Katsuhiko Machida, Chairman of Sharp Corporation, Akio Mimura, Chairman of
Nippon Steel Corporation, Fumiaki Watari, Chairman of Nippon Oil Corporation, and
Hiromasa Yonekura, President of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Prior liaison meetings were held 5 times from July, and the alliance inaugural general
meeting was held on October 30.
