TOKYO: The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, on Monday urged the Japanese government to promote cooperation with developing and emerging market countries in so-called Global South.

Global South countries are vital partners for Japan as they account for more than half of the world population and have abundant food, natural resources and energy, Keidanren said, adding that Japan should devise strategies that meet each country’s needs.

The business lobby made the suggestions as the Japanese government plans to draw up its cooperation policy toward Global South this spring.

Keidanren said Japan should choose priority areas in Global South that it will focus policy resources on to address social challenges they face. Japan needs to get involved in creating economic growth strategies for them, it said.

Specifically, the business lobby called for strengthening top-level diplomacy by the prime minister, setting public-private forums to resolve social problems, developing high-quality infrastructure systems, and concluding economic accords.

JIJI Press