Launch of the Japan Cleantech Industry Association announced at the Asia Local Councilors Forum Japan Conference

On Monday, August 21st, the Asia Local Councilors Forum Japan Conference was held with the aim of building new political partnerships among local councilors from various Asian countries, and Noriko Ishizaka, representative of Ishizaka Sangyo, participated.

The Asia Local Councilors Forum Japan Conference was held over three days from August 19th (Sun) to 21st (Tue), with a networking event held on the 20th (Mon). Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also attended the event and delivered a message expressing his expectations for the forum.

This forum is held annually by local assembly members from Asian countries and their embassies in Japan, and this year marks its third time. This year’s theme was “Coexistence with Asia,” and on Monday the 21st, approximately 120 local assembly members and business people from five countries, including Japan, participated.

Toward realizing a safe, secure, and vibrant Asia, proposals were made and panel discussions were held on two themes: “Regional industrial economic revitalization” and “Disaster and crisis management measures.”

There was also discussion about the need for appropriate measures to address the environmental issues facing each country.

During a sub-session of the forum, the launch of a project by
the Japan CleanTech Industry Consortium (JCTIC), of which our company is a member
, was announced.

JCTIC was established with the participation of the following organizations, with the aim of introducing AI technology and developing solutions using cutting-edge technology to solve social problems.

<Participating organizations>
B.Grove Inc.
, Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.
, ABEJA Co., Ltd.
, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd.
, Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd.

<Supporting organizations>
・(Sabae City) NPO L Community *Posted after confirmation

The issues that JCTIC must address can be divided into three major themes:
1) Building recycling/recycling technologies,
2) Regional agriculture and food circulation,
and 3) Establishing an industrial and economic model within the region.

Ishizaka also took to the stage to introduce the project, conveying the message that
environmental issues, particularly the issue of waste disposal, are global in scale, that
in order to solve these issues, new energy generation and technological development incorporating AI technology are needed on the ground, and
that environmentally conscious “education” is also necessary.

Japan is facing a declining population and an aging society, and there are concerns about a future labor shortage.
The industrial waste disposal industry also faces a serious problem: a lack of skilled workers.

To address these issues, the introduction of robots and AI will become essential in the waste disposal industry. Participating organizations will need to work together and collaborate more closely to tackle these issues, so that cutting-edge technology can help tackle social and environmental problems.

JCTIC aims to involve experts in various fields, local governments, schools, etc. in its activities. Rather than working as a single company or organization, the issues JCTIC is working on are seen as social issues, and in order to work towards solutions, “education” is extremely important.

At JCTIC, we believe that education that connects with society, has a flexible mindset, and seeks to solve problems by working with a variety of people is what “ESD = Education for Sustainable Development” is all about.

Through the forum, participants from Asian countries were able to once again feel the importance of ESD.

<Outline of the 3rd Asia Local Councilors Forum Japan Conference>

■Date:
Tuesday, August 21, 2018

■ Venue:
House of Representatives First Members’ Building, International Conference Hall

■ 5 participating countries (Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan)

Approximately 120 participants
(54 Asian local assembly members, 22 Japanese local assembly members, approximately 50 people from cooperating companies and various organizations)

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