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On December 26, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the conferment ceremony for the first Japan SDGs Award at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of the first Japan SDGs Award today.

All the recipients are the top runners in creating a future vision for a prosperous and vibrant society, through the promotion of the SDGs. All of the more than 280 companies and organizations that applied for the awards, including the recipients, are carrying out outstanding initiatives. Some are companies engaged in the SDGs as their main business, not limited to a social responsibility. Some are local governments creating attractive local communities through the SDGs. Some are cooperative associations and members of the civil society building momentum for the SDGs both in Japan and overseas. Some are universities and primary schools developing those who will realize the SDGs in the future. I believe that the essence of these Awards, and of the promotion of the SDGs, lies in the partnerships whereby not only the Government but also various other entities pool their wisdom and act together.

H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who visited Japan recently, expressed high hopes that Japan will take the initiative on the SDGs. I am convinced that if the Government, companies, local governments, the civil society, and the academic community, including yourselves, all combine their efforts, we will definitely be able to meet these expectations.

I would like to conclude my congratulatory remarks by expressing my own hope that these Awards will result in a major wave of actions taking place throughout society towards the achievement of the SDGs. Again, my sincere congratulations to you all today.”