November 5, 2008
Satoshi Aoki, Chairman
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) warmly congratulates Senator Barack Obama on his election as the 44th president of the United States of America.
President-elect Obama will be assuming his new post at an extraordinarily difficult moment in history. The backdrop to this transition is marked by the U.S.-rooted but now expanding international financial crisis, and by intensifying concerns that its impact on real economic activity will generate increased uncertainty in regard to the future of the global economy. Hoping for decisive leadership from President Obama in addressing this grave and complex challenge, we look forward to the rapid formulation and implementation of policies that will, in effect, enable an early resolution of the financial crisis and a return to a stable world economy.
Over the years, Japan and the United States have built up strong ties of cooperation and friendship in a broad range of areas, including the pivotal areas of trade and finance. JAMA naturally looks forward, under the Obama Administration, not only to the continuation of these ties but to their enhancement. As a key representative of the Japanese automobile industry, our organization will make every effort to contribute actively to the advancement of the motor industries in Japan and in the United States, thereby supporting the economies of both nations and promoting even closer and more progressive relations at all levels of the Japan-U.S. alliance.