Charles D. Lake II Chair

2008 Committee Description
The ACCJ Financial Services Forum (ACCJ FSF) was created by the ACCJ Board of Governors in 2008 to raise the profile and enhance the effectiveness of the ACCJ's advocacy, information-sharing, and programs related to the financial services industry.  The ACCJ FSF is comprised of the Chairs, Co-chairs, and Vice Chairs of the Chamber's financial services-related Committees and Task Forces as well as Board members from the financial services industry.

2008 Committee Objectives

• Coordinate among the financial services committees in developing advocacy positions regarding cross-sector and structural issues, facilitating information-sharing both between the financial services committees themselves and between the ACCJ and outside parties (including the Government of Japan and the U.S. Government), and issuing Viewpoints and other policy positions on broad issues that affect all financial services committees. 
  
• Lead cross-committee initiatives and organize programs of interest to the members of the financial services committees and to the entire ACCJ membership.

2008 Achievements
Advocacy

• Initiated for the first time senior-level Quarterly Conferences with the Financial Services Agency (led on the FSA side by the FSA's Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs) to exchange views on a wide range of issues,  including key issues relevant to specific financial services sectors such as banking, securities, investment management, and insurance.
• Conducted "Financial Services Diet Doorknock" in May and June, meeting with key Diet members and other policymakers to express support for legislation designed to be the first step in implementing the FSA's "Plan for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Japan’s Financial and Capital Markets."
  
• Released and disseminated three viewpoints: "Pass the Recently-Submitted Bill Containing Measures Designed to Begin Strengthening the International Competitiveness of Japan’s Financial and Capital Markets;" "Develop New Corporate Law and Taxation Procedures for the Conversion of the Japanese Branch of a Foreign-Incorporated Company to a Stock Company;" and "Tax Reform for Enhanced Financial Competitiveness and Sustainable Economic Growth."
• In response to a specific request from the Cabinet Office, submitted a "tokku" (special economic zone) proposal for easing restrictions on sponsoring domestic helpers consistent with specific provisions outlined in the Cabinet Office's "Plan to Enhance Japan’s Role as an International Financial Center."  In support of the proposal, engaged in a series of meetings with key stakeholders within the Cabinet Office, FSA, etc.
• Initiated Financial Services Decisionmakers Breakfast series aimed at connecting -- in a small-group setting -- ACCJ financial industry executives with key government and private sector leaders in Japan.