Therefore, I expect that, with cooperation among industry, academia, the government, and finance, the region will overcome this problem by promoting vitalization of the local economy ahead of other regions in Japan and developing business models that would apply for Japan as a whole.
The Bank’s Sapporo Branch will conduct analyses of the regional economy so as to contribute to such efforts as much as possible. In closing, I wish all the best for the further development of the regional economy. Thank you.