DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR OKINAWA

Four Challenges u Achieve full employment u Raise per capita income to mainland level u Achieve economic self-sufficiency. u Freedom to choose your political destiny

Unemployment in Okinawa u Currently 6.5% u 10% among youth u 6.5% job vacancy

High Tech Opportunities u 6 million software professionals worldwide u 2 million in USA u Worldwide demand growing 500,000/year u US trains 50,000 computer scientists/year u 190,000 unfilled software positions in USA u Shortages limiting industry growth u In % of US workers used computers u 58% US high school students use computer

Potential for Okinawa u Okinawa has a double linguistic advantage u Distance is not a problem. u Land and water are not a problem. u Market is not a problem. u Japan software market 800 bil yen in 1996

Objective u Create 10,000 high technology, high paid jobs within 5 years to generate $500 million to $1 billion additional income

Where will jobs come from? u Japanese companies from the mainland u Foreign companies u New businesses

How to attract companies to Okinawa? u Create a reservoir of skilled workers u Promote business partnerships u Provide telecommunications infrastructure u Promote local entrepreneurship

Which skills are needed? u Computer literacy u Software programming u Multimedia u CNC programming u English Language u Entrepreneurship & Business

Four Pronged Strategy u Distance Education & Training u Local Education & Training u Establish Technology Business Center u Proposals for new businesses

Example of India u Software exports $10 million in 1985 u $1 billion in 1996 u Expected to reach $3 billion within 2 years. u Bangalore = Silicon Valley of Asia u 200,000 software professionals in USA u Gates: “India -- next software superpower” u Training centers & technology parks u Alliances with leading US companies