This year's conference explores Panasonic's global business and marketing strategies, focusing on the theme of "Changes in Market Structures after the Economic Recovery."
Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation announced today the commencement of the third Global Advisors Conference with its five advisors participating from Brazil, India, Russia and Japan. The two-day conference will continue tomorrow at Panasonic's Human Resources Development Company in Osaka.
This year, the conference explores Panasonic's global business and marketing strategies, focusing and deliberating on the theme of "Changes in Market Structures after the Economic Recovery" including changes in consumption behavior in the countries and regions represented by the advisors.
Panasonic started the conference in 2008 by inviting eminent persons with experiences and perspectives. The five advisors also participated in the previous two conferences. Panasonic believes that their knowledge and expertise, particularly in politics and economy, will provide the company with insightful international perspectives as it steers the course towards further globalization. Exchanging ideas and opinions with such distinguished people should also assist Panasonic to broaden the international awareness and visions of its managers who will play a leading role in guiding the company towards future growth. Panasonic senior executives including President Fumio Ohtsubo and junior executives are attending the conference.
A brief profile of each participating advisor is as follows:
Advisors
Mr. Ajay Dua, Ph.D. (India)
Dr. Ajay Dua is a former Secretary to the Government of India (Vice Minister) in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. A career civil servant, he has extensive experience of promoting industrialization, investments and infrastructure. He has been Chairman cum Managing Director of India's National Hydro Power Development Corporation, the Rural Electrification Corporation and the National Institute of Design. Till 2008 he was Advisor to the federal government for conceptualizing and planning the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor being designed with assistance of the Government of Japan. Now he works as a senior corporate advisor to a number of multinational corporations operating in India and is on the Boards of Directors of several companies.
Mr. Luiz Fernando Furlan (Brazil)
Mr. Furlan served as Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil from 2003 to 2007. Before assuming this government position, he was engaged in the management of a number of major private corporations. Currently, he holds several positions at various companies including Co-Chairman of the Board of BRF - Brasil Foods S.A., the largest producer of chilled and frozen foods in the country.
Mr. Alexander Voloshin (Russia)
Mr. Voloshin was Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and member of the Russian National Security Council, serving Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin from 1999 to 2003. After leaving the government, he served on the boards of major corporations including Chairman of Norilsk Nickel, Russia's largest mining and metallurgical company.
Mr. Toshihiko Fukui (Japan)
Mr. Fukui was Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) from 2003 to 2008. He joined BOJ in 1958 and held several prominent positions including the Director-General of Research and Statistics Department, Head of the Banking Department and Policy Planning Department, Executive Director and Deputy Governor before his appointment as Governor. Since December 2008, he has served as President of the Canon Institute for Global Studies.
Mr. Yukio Okamoto (Japan)
Mr. Okamoto served as Special Advisor to Prime Ministers Ryutaro Hashimoto from 1996 to 1998 and Junichiro Koizumi from 2003 to 2004. He has been the President of consultancy, Okamoto Associates, Inc., since its foundation in 1991. He is also a renowned analyst of and commentator on international relations.
About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.42 trillion yen (US$79.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2010. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.
