Chairman

Mr. Shigefumi Wada, President of OBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd., was appointed Chairman of CSAJ at the 21st General Meeting held on June 14, 2006.

Shigefumi Wada President, OBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd. Brief Background Born 1952. Graduated from Rikkyo University, Department of Economics. Employed at Ohara School of Accounting in 1976. Created OBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd. in 1980, acting as President to present. Board Member of CSAJ in 1999. Executive Board Member of CSAJ in 2000. Appointed Chairman of CSAJ on June 14, 2006.

Message from the Chairman

We are seeing signs of economic recovery in Japan, with corporate profits on the rise and gradual growth of capital investments in the private sector. At the same time, today's businesses are expected to be more independent, take more responsibilities and to embrace a clear vision, as laws protecting personal information and new corporate laws are enacted.
IT is regarded as the most important industry in dealing with the challenges of today's society and the wide-spread use of the Internet is expected to create new business opportunities. We witnessed the integration of the concept and technology for the next generation Internet this past year, as the stage is readied for the birth of a "knowledge industry." Furthermore, the conglomeration of knowledge not only influences those who provide the information, but also those who have access to the data, such as the users, and the information itself continues to evolve throughout this process. These are signs of an unprecedented social phenomenon, which tear down traditional preconceptions.
On the other hand, the social and economic framework throughout the world is expected to experience immense transformation over the next five to ten years, and one cannot help but sense the approach of a new wave of changes with the next generation Internet. As JPSA celebrates its 20th anniversary, the time is now to take another look at its raison d'etre and ask how the association can contribute to society. Thus, we will fulfill a significant role in the further growth of the computer software industry undertaking the following themes.

1. Increasing the value of CSAJ CSAJ activities cover a wide spectrum, and we will continue to review our scope of activities to provide better contents. They have covered legal, tax, global, human resource, market and technology issues, as well as increasing business opportunities for member companies, corporate social responsibility and risks, and the promotion of OSS. JPSA will seek correlations among these issues based on research and deliberation, while acting as a source of pertinent information for the industry.

2. Promoting IT CSAJ will promote the use of IT solutions in society to tackle today's challenges, such as new legislation, in a timely manner.

3. Solutions for the lack of IT-related labor CSAJ is striving to improve the image of the IT industry in order to tackle such issues as the "year 2007 problem (mass retirement of experienced workers)." CSAJ will also continue to nurture talented workers in the industry by further improving the quality of qualification activities (Technical Examination for CAD Users; Personal Computer Accounting Manager Test).

4. Global support and nurturing of packaged software companies CSAJ's global activities include the "Asia ERP Forum" launched in 2005, where software companies, mainly from China, Korea and Japan, come together to exchange ideas, seek opportunities to work together and to make Asia the source of new software initiatives. We also support member companies make new inroads into the U.S. market by working together with such organizations as the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

New CSAJ initiatives include the creation of designated entities for assigning the Privacy-mark, operation of a portal site for packaged software grouped by category, and continuing the associate membership (free membership for limited term) program to nurture venture companies.
In addition, we will continue to improve our website as an information hub, so that it provides not only our accrued information from past activities, but make it easier to use and understand.

CSAJ will continue to move forward together with our member companies. We will soon make a new start under the name Computer Software Association of Japan (CSAJ) and we take this opportunity to ask for your continued cooperation and support.

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