Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended a meeting of the Roundtable on the Promotion of Inward Investment held at the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting is held with the participation of representatives of industries and labor organizations in order for the public and private sectors to play their respective roles in concert to promote inward investment, toward compilation of the "Japan Inward Investment Promotion Program."

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "I believe we are now facing the need to fundamentally rebuild Japan's inward investment environment. The business location trends surrounding Japan have changed significantly due to factors including the recent strengthening of the yen, which if left unaddressed may accelerate overseas transfer of factories and head offices. Against this backdrop, if we are to support Japan's employment and economy, we need to promote inward investment through all-out public-private efforts. I would like the members at the roundtable meeting to discuss the matter thoroughly, and work out concrete measures involving both public and private sectors that would have a large impact in terms of job creation."