As a successful outcome of these developments, export-oriented enterprises are able to secure profits even in the severe environment presented by a sharp decline in production in the IT industry and increasing productivity in China and other East Asian economies. Though there are no real observable results in the overall economy, I believe that these individual efforts will in the end bear fruit.
Fortunately, our country has abundant personal financial assets and foreign claims. This means that unlike countries where weakness in the economy directly leads to external debt repayment problems, Japan can ensure the necessary timeframe for reform. This is our country’s strongest advantage and may perhaps also be a weakness in that our sense of crisis may be lacking. We know where the problems lie.