Partnership in calm and storm

At Issue: The decision by the business community to be proactive in the formulation of policies here.

Our View: An outstanding decision so that we can organize our house to deal with shifts in the “new economy”.

It will be to our collective benefit if both sectors–public and private–take the initiative to proactively work together towards a set of goals mapping the uncharted waters of the so-called “new economy”.

The decision by the business community to proactively participate in the formulation of policies is an excellent start. This should have been established long time ago where both sectors converge to map-out the future of these isles. It hasn’t happened over the last 22 years, but it’s a good start to begin a “Partnership 21st Century”.

In any government throughout the free world, both sectors usually meet to exchange realistic assessment of events that may affect the livelihood of its people or influences from within and without. From this set of data, serious planning begins on how to cope with, i.e., the adverse effects on the local economy as a direct result of the Asian Flu.

In the case of Japan, both sectors has constantly addressed solutions to the downward spiral of its economy, the worse ever since 50 years ago, employing public works projects to allow the private sector to fulfill new restructuring until it can stand on its own feet. It’s a good move granting some breathing space for restructuring to pan-out while the public sector uses funds in hopes of reviving the world’s second largest economy.

Just the notion of meeting together in partnership should enable the local government (in the collective sense) to ably map-out strategies to cushion major losses in revenue generation. That the business community wants direct participation in policy matters is even more encouraging as both sides engage in deliberative discussions to guide these isles in its bid to revive the local economy.

Indeed, more so than ever before, these isles are faced with new sets of paradigms and challenges so wrought upon the entire global village by Information Technology. It’s something both sides ought to seriously review and follow through with thoroughly thought-out polices to rein-in the very tool of this century in the conduct of business. Friends, it’s no longer “business as usual”. We have to exit the usual mañana syndrome in order to secure the means to join the rest of the global in all the benefits that IT has presented to nations the world over.

It may be a risk, but a risk definitely worth taking. Let’s join hands and study how do we tackle new challenges brought forth by the New Era of IT. Si Yuus Maase`!