Firstly, and most importantly, this year marks Japan’s golden jubilee: 50 years as a member of the OECD. Japan was our first Asia-Pacific member country, and has paved the way to strengthen the OECD’s ties within the region. This year, for the second time, Japan is chairing our Ministerial Council Meeting – the most important annual decision-making event of the Organization, said Angel Gurría.

The OECD has now grown into an institution of truly global relevance. And Japan, which was the first Asian country to join the organisation, is now a world economic giant. It is a great honour to introduce the Chairman of the 2014 Ministerial Council Meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Due to serious concerns about the extremely low level of enforcement of Japan’s offence of bribing foreign public officials – just three prosecutions since 1999 – the OECD Working Group on Bribery recommended in December 2013 that Japan establish an Action Plan to organise police and prosecution resources to be able to proactively detect, investigate and prosecute cases of foreign bribery by Japanese companies.

Through the Tohoku School Project, the students have developed their capacities for innovation, leadership, and co-operation. They learned how to get the information they need when there isn’t a readymade answer in their textbook or a teacher to guide them. In other words, they learned how to learn – perhaps the most valuable lesson of all! said OECD Secretary-General.

While the outlook for many OECD countries remains subdued, Emerging Asia is set for healthy growth over the medium term. Annual GDP growth for the ASEAN -10, China and India is forecast to average 6.5% over 2015-19. Growth momentum remains robust in the 10 ASEAN countries, with economic growth averaging 5.6% over 2015-19.

Japan could help laid-off workers find a job more quickly by improving co-ordination between public employment services and companies, as well as ensuring that all workers benefit from adequate Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, according to a new OECD report.

It was with immense sadness that I learned of the tragic execution of Kenji at the hands of the terrorists from Islamic State. We strongly condemn this terrible and odious act, as well as other killings carried out by ISIS.

The Japanese economy is on a path to stronger growth, but fundamental structural reforms are urgently needed to promote a more robust recovery, address high levels of government debt and reverse a trend toward declining living standards, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Japan.

Mr. Gurría presented the 2015 OECD Economic Survey of Japan, held several meetings including with the Prime Minister, took part in the launch event for the Education 2030 project and delivered a keynote speech at the International Symposium on Corporate Governance and Japan’s Growth Strategy.

This country note provides information on latest trends in income inequalities as well as key findings from the 2015 OECD report "In it Together: Why less inequality benefits all".

The Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as well as several Ministers and high-level authorities of Japan. He spoke at a number of events and also presented the OECD Territorial Review of Japan and the publication Japan: Boosting Growth and Well-being in an Ageing Society.

Japan must make revitalising growth its number one priority with reforms to boost productivity and encourage more women and older people into jobs to compensate for its rapidly shrinking labour force, according to the OECD.

Japan, one of the founding members of the OECD Development Centre, conveyed its intention to return as a member. Prime Minister Abe and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida confirmed Japan's commitment to the OECD Secretary General Gurría and Development Centre’s Director Mario Pezzini during their visit to Tokyo earlier this week.

The global economy is stuck in a low-growth trap that will require more coordinated and comprehensive use of fiscal, monetary and structural policies to move to a higher growth path and ensure that promises are kept to both young and old, according to the OECD’s latest Global Economic Outlook.

In December 2014, the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions agreed to send a High Level Mission to Japan due to longstanding serious concerns about Japan’s implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

A high-level Working Group mission will visit Tokyo on 29-30 June 2016 and meet senior Japanese government officials.

Biographical note of Japan's Permanent Representative to the OECD.

OECD Secretary-General was in Tokyo on 13-14 April 2017, on an official visit to Japan. During his visit, he presented the OECD Economic Survey of Japan 2017 and held hold bilateral meetings with several High Level Officials.

The Japanese economy has gained momentum and is creating jobs, according to a new OECD report. The latest OECD Economic Survey of Japan, presented in Tokyo by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, says that per capita growth rates in recent years have matched those across the OECD – a major improvement. The Survey underlines the key role Abenomics has played in the economic revival.

Between 1999 and 2014, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan dropped by 21% as a result of the retirement of ageing business owners and weak entrepreneurial intentions in the Japanese population.

Japan should step up efforts to improve young people’s job prospects and reduce the share of 15-29 year-olds who are not in employment, education or training (the “NEETs”), according to a new OECD report.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, was in Tokyo on an official visit from 11 to 13 April 2018. He held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Abe as well as with several Ministers and high level Japanese officials.

壊れた社会的流動性エレベーター？ 社会的流動性を向上させるには 他国と比べて日本は?

A broken social elevator? Key findings for Japan

Japan must improve job quality and further reform the mandatory retirement age to address upfront the challenges of its rapidly ageing and shrinking labour force, according to a new OECD report.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, will be in Tokyo on 15-16 April 2019 on an Official visit to Japan, to present the OECD 2019 Economic Survey of Japan. During his visit, the Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Abe, as well as several Ministers and other high-level Japanese officials.

The Japanese economy is undergoing the longest expansion in its post-war history, marked by strong job creation and business investment. Government policy must overcome the intertwined challenges posed by rapid population ageing and high government debt to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for future generations, according to a new report from the OECD.

Japan’s agriculture sector has traditionally been characterised by small-scale rice production, but has recently begun to respond to new market opportunities for higher value food products across a rapidly growing East Asia. Today, rice represents less than 20% of the value of agriculture production, and larger, more productive, and more profitable farm businesses now account for more than half of total agriculture output.

Cross-border capital flows are an integral component of international finance, but require a balanced framework for removing unnecessary barriers to the movement of capital while providing governments flexibility to cope with instances of economic or financial instability, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said today.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría and Japan’s Minister of Finance Taro Aso presided today over a signing ceremony to establish a new centre of the OECD International Academy for Tax Crime Investigation in Wako, Japan.

Fossil-fuel subsidies are environmentally harmful, costly, and distortive. After a 3 years downward trend between 2013 and 2016, government support for fossil fuel production and use has risen again, in a threat to efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and the transition to cleaner and cheaper energy.

Mr. Angel Gurría was be in Osaka, from 27 to 29 June 2019, to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with high-level officials attending the summit.

Private Debt To GDP in Luxembourg decreased to 485.07 percent in 2018 from 488.87 percent in 2017. Private Debt To GDP in Luxembourg averaged 351.89 percent from 1999 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 488.87 percent in 2017 and a record low of 165.68 percent in 2000. Private sector debt to GDP measures the indebtedness of both sectors, non-financial corporations and households and non-profit institutions serving households, as a percentage of GDP. This page provides - Luxembourg Private Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Medical Doctors in Luxembourg increased to 3.31 per 1000 people in 2017 from 3.10 per 1000 people in 2016. Medical Doctors in Luxembourg averaged 3.02 per 1000 people from 2004 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 3.31 per 1000 people in 2017 and a record low of 2.72 per 1000 people in 2004. This page includes a chart with historical data for Luxembourg Medical Doctors.

Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 3490.92 ZAR Million in March from 2608.19 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2920.53 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4194.88 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 1704.27 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

Exports: Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass Products in South Africa increased to 414.01 ZAR Million in March from 376.95 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports: Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass Pro in South Africa averaged 345.72 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 540.34 ZAR Million in April of 2016 and a record low of 209.16 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass.

Exports to Africa in South Africa increased to 16944.15 ZAR Million in March from 16095.51 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Africa in South Africa averaged 15254.42 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 19260.42 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 10653.84 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to Africa.

Exports to America in South Africa decreased to 9624.18 ZAR Million in March from 9687.30 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to America in South Africa averaged 8763.94 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 12601.46 ZAR Million in November of 2017 and a record low of 5645.70 ZAR Million in January of 2016. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to America.

Exports to Asia in South Africa decreased to 31282.21 ZAR Million in March from 32098.71 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Asia in South Africa averaged 29978.75 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 39054.67 ZAR Million in November of 2017 and a record low of 20235.93 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to Asia.

Exports to Europe in South Africa increased to 35805.52 ZAR Million in March from 29412.69 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Europe in South Africa averaged 23811.82 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 35805.52 ZAR Million in March of 2020 and a record low of 16239.03 ZAR Million in January of 2016. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to EUrope.

Exports to Oceania in South Africa increased to 1310.85 ZAR Million in March from 902.57 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Oceania in South Africa averaged 1068.62 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 1785.36 ZAR Million in August of 2018 and a record low of 574.50 ZAR Million in May of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to Oceania.

Exports to Ships/aircraft Stores CMLV in South Africa increased to 2709.92 ZAR Million in March from 1974.50 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Ships/aircraft Stores CMLV in South Africa averaged 3396.87 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 9272.36 ZAR Million in December of 2015 and a record low of 279.65 ZAR Million in January of 2016. South Africa accounts for Exports to Ships/aircraft Stores using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to Ships/aircraft Stores.

Exports to Ships & Aircrapft Stores (world Zone) in South Africa decreased to 735.41 ZAR Million in March from 833.73 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports to Ships & Aircrapft Stores (world Zone) in South Africa averaged 561.19 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2052.33 ZAR Million in May of 2015 and a record low of 94.50 ZAR Million in April of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports to Ships & Aircrapft Stores (world Zone).

Imports: Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass Products in South Africa decreased to 836.22 ZAR Million in March from 984.05 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports: Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass Pro in South Africa averaged 1114.60 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 1572.20 ZAR Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 754.65 ZAR Million in December of 2016. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Stone Plaster Cement Ceramics & Glass.

Imports of Semi-precious Stones & Jewellery in South Africa decreased to 498.15 ZAR Million in March from 757.05 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Semi-precious Stones & Jewellery in South Africa averaged 733.38 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2037.70 ZAR Million in August of 2016 and a record low of 286.25 ZAR Million in December of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Semi-precious Stones & Jewellery.

Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 2612.43 ZAR Million in March from 2292.20 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2502.29 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 3674.84 ZAR Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 1707.09 ZAR Million in June of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

Imports of Articles of Stone CMLV in South Africa increased to 3046.71 ZAR Million in March from 2210.56 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Articles of Stone CMLV in South Africa averaged 7117.69 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 15065.95 ZAR Million in December of 2019 and a record low of 1086.53 ZAR Million in January of 2015. South Africa accounts for Imports of Articles of Stone using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Articles of Stone CMLV.

Myanmar recorded a Current Account deficit of 2 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Current Account to GDP in Myanmar averaged -2.10 percent from 1998 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 6.80 percent in 2006 and a record low of -14.80 percent in 1998. The Current account balance as a percent of GDP provides an indication on the level of international competitiveness of a country. Usually, countries recording a strong current account surplus have an economy heavily dependent on exports revenues, with high savings ratings but weak domestic demand. On the other hand, countries recording a current account deficit have strong imports, a low saving rates and high personal consumption rates as a percentage of disposable incomes. This page provides - Myanmar Current Account to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Myanmar recorded a government debt equivalent to 49.41 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Government Debt to GDP in Myanmar averaged 87.05 percent from 1998 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 216.04 percent in 2001 and a record low of 37.14 percent in 2013. Generally, Government debt as a percent of GDP is used by investors to measure a country ability to make future payments on its debt, thus affecting the country borrowing costs and government bond yields. This page provides - Myanmar Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The MNI China business sentiment index increased to 55.9 in December of 2016 from 53.1 in November. The reading pointed to the highest figure since August 2014, as output rose the most since September 2015 while Future Expectations Indicator went up to the highest in three months. "This is a positive end to a choppy year for the Chinese business environment," said Andy Wu, Senior Economist of MNI Indicators. Mni Business Sentiment in China averaged 57.59 from 2007 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 77.20 in May of 2010 and a record low of 38.70 in December of 2008. The MNI China Business Sentiment survey is a monthly poll of Chinese business executives at a mix of manufacturing and service sector companies listed on both the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. The survey provides the first monthly snapshot of economic and business conditions, ahead of official data and other business confidence data in China. Respondents are asked their opinion on whether a particular business activity has increased, decreased remained the same compared with the previous month as well as their expectations for three months ahead. E.g. Is Production Higher/Same/Lower compared with a month ago? A diffusion indicator is then calculated by adding the percentage share of positive responses to half the percentage of those respondents reporting no change. An indicator reading above 50 shows expansion, below 50 indicates contraction and a result of 50 means no change. Series which show a seasonal pattern are seasonally adjusted. This page provides - China Mni Business Sentiment- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.