Summary of the ITS Info-communications Forum General Assembly - Fiscal Year 2003

The ITS Info-communications Forum held its annual general assembly for fiscal year 2003 on May 26 (Mon), 2003, in the conference room of the Zenkyouren Building in Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The chairman of the assembly was Dr. Shoichiro TOYODA , honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Dr. TOYODA started off the assembly by giving opening remarks, and this was followed by an address from Mr. Kan'ichiro ARITOMI Director-General of the Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Telecommunications. Next, a report on the Forum ' s activities and the settlement of accounts for fiscal year 2002 were given, and discussions regarding the activities and budget as well as the election of directors and Steering Committee members for fiscal year 2003 were held. Matters requiring decisions were voted on and passed as proposed.

Dr. TOYODA commented that research and development and the standardization of ITS information-communications technologies are indispensable in view of current needs, which requires that ITS become practical for market use immediately, and thus the role of the Forum has become increasingly important. Mr. Aritomi expressed that ITS is a key element in thinking about the future of business related to wireless communications, that it is important to use opportunities such as the ITS World Congress Nagoya, Aichi 2004 and other venues to introduce to people how ITS is used and will be used in daily life, and that the Ministry is working hard towards realizing the use of more ITS in the future.

Dr. Shoichiro TOYODA, Chairman ITS Info-communications Forum

Mr. Kan'ichiro ARITOMI Director-General, Telecommunications Bureau Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Telecommunications

General Assembly