My beliefs (introductions)
In early September 2009, the news of ‘policy reversal’ declared by new political power, Democratic Party, shocked Japan. The party halted all major projects of infrastructure investments for a while, because the party claimed that the priority for the allocation of budgets was welfare policy like childrearing allowance during this public spending crisis. My division, policy division in Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) had to stop executing supplementary budgets for infrastructure investments as fiscal policy, which we made to stimulate the deteriorating Japanese economy under the previous administration, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
I have been in charge of monitoring Japanese economic trends since they are indicator of the effect of previous infrastructure investments, and to tell the truth, I as well as my division have been aware that fiscal policy is less effective for short-term economy than the LDP claims. However, at the same time, I have been in charge of researching necessary areas in long-term infrastructure investment, and consider that there still exists huge demand for infrastructure investments in certain areas like earthquake-proof updating and environmental modifications. Especially, I as well as my division have estimated the huge costs for maintenance of aging Japanese infrastructure, which were mostly made in 50 years ago. We also estimated large social sacrifice if we could not do maintenance. I reasoned this by doing international research that analysis the negative impact of physical crisis like bridge crash in USA and service crises in water in UK.
Therefore, even though the declining birthrate and aging population, combined with growing budget deficits make public infrastructure investment difficult, Japanese infrastructure investments must be maintained. To address these issues, not only I but also my department as well believe that it is urgent subjects to figure out how to promote new way of infrastructure investments such as Public-Private-Partnership (PPPs) etc. In this way, infrastructure investments can still occur and the public coffers will not be emptied. I believe that this goal can be achieved through creating more appropriate regulatory mechanism in existing systems like PPPs.
Career path (past)
To create more appropriate systems for further infrastructure investments during public spending crisis, I obtained two types of work experiences; the research projects for efficient and effective infrastructure investments at General Policy Bureau and the introduction of the new maritime policy in project team at the Maritime Bureau
Regarding research projects, I research how to promote PPPs for efficient infrastructure investments and develop analysis skill. Since my major was economics in University, I am especially in charge of economic analysis, such as analysis of the financial situation and risk of the infrastructure investments that changed after the latest economic crisis in 2008. Actually, in Japan, there are only four cases of PPPs in infrastructure investments and we want to know how to overcome the obstacles that currently plague PPPs. I especially contribute for finding out the obstacles by claiming and analyzing mind aspects of the investors for infrastructure investments, which had never highlighted before in MLIT. In addition, I researched how the Japanese feel towards daily infrastructures like roads and parks to find out effective investments that increase their quality of life. In this research, we revealed people’s higher needs for investments for aging society like barrier free investments. In this research, I also suggested the importance of mind aspects that was previously indifferent view point for MLIT, and announced the new findings via the white paper.
Regarding introduction of the new maritime policy, I was nominated as one of nine project team members to create new incentive system in maritime policy that encouraged the investments of shipping and seafarers. I developed negotiating skills. I also noticed that to realize appropriate systems, I need strong leadership skill to negotiate with many people concerned including private sectors and politicians.
Career path (Future goal)
In the future, it’s my desire to promote PPPs and other similar investment programs that enable us to invest in infrastructure efficiently and effectively, with the ultimate goal of not only creating a strong infrastructure within Japan but also in other Asian nations, positively impacting their quality of life.
In short term, after your graduate program, I will return to MLIT, and create a system that overcomes the obstacles that currently plague PPPs in Japan. Specifically, I would like to focus on maximum impact projects such as maintenance roads to avoid physical crises. To meet this challenge, statistical analysis and policy design skills are crucial.
In mid- term, I hope to use the lessons and successes of PPP use in the high priority projects to extend the practice into other areas like water and power systems. These should be systems which offer mutual benefit to the government and the private sector. To ensure the quality avoiding service crisis, incentive systems will need to be designed to combat the problems of ‘cutting corners’ etc that are frequently seen in contract projects. To meet this challenge, higher analysis skill like advanced economic skill and higher policy making skills like negotiating skill are required.
In long term, I wish to enhance Win-Win partnership between Japan and Asia, extending the practice of Japanese PPPs and other programs into other nations as a top manager of MLIT. It is beneficial for Asian citizens to make full use of advanced Japanese technology. It also creates opportunities for Japanese private sectors to find new markets for investments.
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| 8:30-22:30 | 9:00-19:00 | ||
| 休館 |
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| １１月 |
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