Opening Remarks

Mr. Shiojiri noted that it was a great pleasure to host the ASEM/TFAP Seminar on Government Procurement and IT in Tokyo. He pointed out that this was the second seminar under the framework of TFAP (Trade Facilitation Action Plan)/Government Procurement, following the seminar that took place in Germany in 1999. He added that at ASEM III held last October in Seoul the leaders endorsed the deliverables and concrete goals for 2000-2002 in the Government Procurement area among other priority areas. He hoped that the seminar would contribute to achieving these goals and deliverables.