Massage from chairman Overview Mission About FIIF Overview Official Name: Foreign Information Industry Forum Office: Orbit Bldg. 1F, 4-4-7 Iidabashi,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0072, Japan Phone: +81-3-3238-1961 Fax: +81-3-5211-3840 Board of Directors History Autumn 1991 FIIF is established by presidents of 7 foreign-affiliated computer software/hardware companies. 1992-1994 Board members hold meetings with the related Ministries and Agencies to study the current situation and to exchange opinions on various issues. Included are the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of General Affairs. 1994 FIIF makes a proposal on 4 projects concerning the research & development enterprises under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs: (1) Research and study on the method of procurement of computer systems to the local public organizations. (2) Research and study on construction of welfare network within the welfare integrated information system. (3) Research and development on the integrated office automation system for small organizations. (4) Research and study on the usage of network "communication line" concerning the information processing within local public organizations. Research and study on the tender for the computers in the MITI, and tendered for the procurement of LAN within the MITI. 1996 "A Proposal from the Foreign Information Industry Forum" is published in The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun to warn that Japan is lagging behind other nations in its informatization. It is also featured in a nationwide cable-TV program. 1997 FIIF hosts networking events for an industrial exchange between FIIF and other industries. (Every other month) 1998 FIIF publishes "The Urgent Proposal", a document which concludes the fruits of activities during its first phase, aimed at both political and business worlds in Japan. Due to a great response, also publishes "Three Triggers to Revitalize Japanese Economy", a book on these proposals aimed at the general public. 1999 FIIF, with the support of the MITI and the Ministry of Home Affairs, holds a seminar, "Creating a New Stream to Revitalize Japan". 2000 FIIF launches into its second phase. "Assembly 2000" is held at the American Club in Tokyo, and 150 IT-related companies participate in this event. Sep. FIIF launches "Juku -i change Nippon", the opening of a series of seminars, at Edo Tokyo Museum. Dec. FIIF hosts "The 2nd Juku - i change Nippon". Mr. Richard Stallman, the creator of GNU and the founder of the free-software movement, gives a speech.