Collective wisdom sought for by small producers and traders

Small traders and producers rallied from throughout Japan for study and exchange in the 13th meeting held from August 23 to 25 in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

In the rally entitled "For the recovery of human rights in the economy and society," about 2,000 business people and researchers took part, the largest attendance ever.

Small and medium sized businesses are making strenuous efforts to give and take good ideas to get out of the prolonged economic recession and to form a network to revive regional economies.

Uchida Takeshi, general secretary of the National Federation of Traders and Producers Organizations (Zenshoren), made a keynote report. He urged the participants to use the forum, in which a wide range of people can meet, as an opportunity to exchange activities of business and research to help develop business as well as the movement.

In a report on activities in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, organizations of small- and medium-sized businesses made a joint proposal to the ward administration in the 1970s following the collapse of the high-rate growth economy. Helped by 165 ward officials, they surveyed 9,313 small businesses in the ward. The result moved the administration and led to the enactment of a ward ordinance to help revitalize small businesses.

A university professor in an advisory position said, "Small business people and researchers should cooperate with each other to use the ordinance to safeguard local economies and maintain jobs."(end)