途上国リスク 日本企業が抱える課題は重い

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 27, 2013)
Hostage crisis shows challenges facing Japanese firms abroad
途上国リスク　日本企業が抱える課題は重い（1月26日付・読売社説）

The taking of hostages by Islamist militants at a natural gas plant in Algeria has forced Japanese companies operating abroad to review their security management systems.
　アルジェリアで起きたイスラム武装勢力による人質事件は、海外展開する日本企業に危機管理体制の見直しを迫った。

They have to strike a difficult balance between developing business opportunities abroad and preparing countermeasures against terrorism and other risks.
　ビジネスチャンスを拡大しながら、テロなどのリスクにどう備えるか。難しい課題の両立策を模索しなければならない。

In the recent crisis, 10 employees of major plant construction company JGC Corp. and companies related to it were killed. On Friday, the bodies of nine of them returned to Japan on a Japanese government plane, along with seven survivors.
　犠牲になった大手プラントメーカー日揮と関連会社の社員１０人のうち９人の遺体と、無事だった７人が、政府専用機で帰国した。

JGC has developed natural resources in Algeria since the 1960s. It does business not only in Africa but also in many countries in the Middle East, Asia and other regions.
　日揮は１９６０年代からアルジェリアの資源開発に取り組み、アフリカだけでなく、中東、アジアなど世界に展開してきた。

JGC is a pioneering Japanese corporation in doing business abroad. Over 70 percent of its sales are earned in other countries. We have to take very seriously the fact that even JGC, with its thorough knowledge of operating in developing countries, could fall victim to terrorism.
　売上高に占める海外比率は７割超に達し、海外で稼ぐパイオニア企業である。途上国ビジネスに精通していた日揮ですら、テロに巻き込まれたのは深刻だ。

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Risks in developing countries

"[The hostage-taking incident] shows the challenge of doing business and securing safety simultaneously," said JGC President Koichi Kawana at a press conference. His words reflect a common challenge for other Japanese firms operating abroad.
　川名浩一社長は記者会見で「安全を確保しながらビジネスを進めていく課題を突き付けられた」と述べた。海外展開する日本企業に共通の課題と言えよう。

About 15 Japanese companies have offices in Algeria. In other African countries that are also rich in natural resources and expected to grow economically, Japanese firms compete with each other in the trade, construction, automobile and many other industries.
　アルジェリアには日本企業約１５社の拠点がある。資源が豊富で成長が期待されるアフリカ各地で、商社、ゼネコン、自動車など様々な業界が競っている。

According to a survey by the Japan External Trade Organization, 70 percent of Japanese firms operating in Africa said the continent will become increasingly important. But 90 percent said Africa had problems regarding political and social stability, which undermines security. The figures show the dilemma such firms face.
　日本貿易振興機構（ジェトロ）の調査では、アフリカに進出した日本企業の７割が「アフリカの重要性が増す」と答える一方、９割が「治安など政治的・社会的な安定性」を問題点に挙げた。各社のジレンマがうかがえる。

After the latest incident, Japanese firms operating abroad have taken defensive measures such as prohibiting employees from traveling to countries where security concerns are high and enhancing the security of their offices and plants. We think those are appropriate actions.
　今回の事件後、各社は治安悪化が懸念される国への出張を禁止したり、事務所やプラントなどの警備を強化するなどの自衛策を打ち出した。当然の対応だろう。

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Coordinate with governments

However, there is a limit to the defensive measures a private company can afford to take. We expect companies to reexamine their security measures by strengthening their coordination with the Japanese government and the governments of the other countries where they operate.
　だが、一企業による自衛策には限界もある。政府や地元政府などとの連携を強化し、安全対策を総点検してもらいたい。

Meanwhile, the government plans to review its own response to the incident while organizing a panel of experts to study ways to protect Japanese nationals abroad. It is important to discuss the risks in developing countries from a broader perspective.
　政府は、事件対応を検証するとともに、有識者懇談会を設置し、邦人保護のあり方を検討する。幅広い観点からの議論が重要だ。

We would like to suggest that both ruling and opposition parties begin talks as soon as possible on establishing a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council to enhance the government's ability to systematically gather and analyze intelligence on terrorism.
　テロ関連の情報収集・分析体制を強化するため、国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の早期設置へ与野党協議を始めてはどうか。

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner New Komeito plan to discuss revision of the Self-Defense Forces Law. Though it is already possible under the current law to transport Japanese nationals on SDF ships and planes, the parties are considering revising the law so that the SDF can also rescue and transport Japanese people on land in other countries.
　自民、公明両党は自衛隊法改正を検討する。現行法で可能な自衛艦・航空機による邦人輸送に加え外国での邦人救出や陸上輸送を可能にすることを想定している。

However, the advance agreement of the countries concerned will be necessary for the SDF to carry out such missions. The missions will also require a relaxation of the rules on the use of weapons, which is narrowly restricted to immediate self-defense at present. It will also be necessary to specially train Ground Self-Defense Force members in how to protect people in their care.
　しかし、新たな任務の実施は当事国の同意が前提となる。正当防衛などに限定されている武器使用基準の緩和のほか、陸上自衛隊には警護任務の特殊な訓練が求められる。

The ruling parties should have serious and responsible discussions of these issues.
これらの課題について、しっかり論議することが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2013)
（2013年1月26日01時36分  読売新聞）