Keizai Koho Center (KKC) invited Mr. Andrew Wylegala, President of the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) to speak on the above topic at Keidanren Kaikan in Otemachi, Tokyo. Thirty executives and staff members from the overseas divisions of KKC member companies took part in the event.

Mr. Wylegala first introduced the Business Speaker Series (BSS) as one of the main activities of NAJAS. The Business Speaker Series, continuously organized by NAJAS and KKC, is an event where executives from Japanese companies share their business strategies and contributions to the local communities in the various regions of the United States and exchange views. Thanks to the development of many Japanese companies in the U.S., the BSS has become the most popular program at NAJAS. He expressed his hope that BSS will continue and that Japanese companies will further develop their economic activities in the United States.

Mr. Wylegala then presented his views on the outlook for the semiconductor industry in Northeast Asia. The United States and Japan used to compete heavily in the semiconductor field, but the situation has changed due to factors such as economic security. He shared his view that the U.S. government is expanding semiconductor investment based on the CHIPS and Science Act, and this policy will be continued by the next administration. He also stated that as Japan and the U.S. complement each other in the development and investment of semiconductors with robust supply chains, both countries need to strengthen their cooperation with European countries, such as the Netherlands. He also pointed out the need to continue to keep a close eye on the role that Taiwan plays in the semiconductor industry. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is trying to produce a range of semiconductors, from cutting-edge to popular products, in the U.S. and Japan, and is committed to maintaining its core technologies and production capacity.

During the discussion, participants inquired about the operations of NAJAS and the semiconductor industry in the United States. Mr. Wylegala explained that NAJAS is a small organization with highly capable staff members run by membership fees and operates throughout the United States. He also shared some key issues in semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, such as working closely with policymakers and building robust supply chains.