Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Draws Investors to Bloomberg LP

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told more than 250 investors that he pledges to boost corporate governance and will work with the Bank of Japan to put the economy on the path toward robust growth. He also said that mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. The event was held today at Bloomberg LP headquarters in New York City.

“The deflation mindset that long haunted Japan, we have now shrugged off,” Abe said, adding, “My reforms are balancing. The numbers of such companies that have independent, long existent board members, have doubled over the last two years.”

Prime Minister Abe said that Japan’s female labor force has expanded over the last three years by more than 900,000. And that data from the OECD has revealed that female labor participation in Japan now outnumbers that in the U.S.

“Japan is a country rich and vibrant in its potential. Japan’s talents, and the dawn of a new golden age and prospects for the next five to ten years are extremely promising,” he said.

Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and three-term Mayor of New York City, said, “Japan remains an engine of technological innovation, the world’s third-biggest economy, and a driver of global growth. And today, many global investors are looking to Japan with renewed optimism and heightened interest.”

Bloomberg added, “Japan is one of the most important markets for our company. We sold our first Bloomberg terminal back in 1983, two years after the company was started. We decided to open our first office in Asia. We did it in Japan back in 1987. That office is still growing, and I’m glad to say the first person we ever hired in Tokyo still works for us after all of these years.”

This year, more than 60% of investment in the Nikkei has come from abroad, he said, adding, “Bloomberg is in a unique position to help those investors make smart decisions, through the news and data we provide, and by bringing people together like we are today.”

Click here to read remarks by Michael R. Bloomberg

Here are links to hear Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s televised comments:

Japan’s Abe Speaks About Economy, Corporate Governance

Shinzo Abe: Corporate Governance Reform Top of My Agenda

Shinzo Abe: Female Labor Force Has Increased in Japan

Shinzo Abe: I Have Made Japan Fulfill Its Potential

– Jason Kelly, Bloomberg News New York Bureau Chief