Ambassador Nogami with Fujitsu staff and local dignitaries © Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd

Deputy Lord Lieutenant, My Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull,

It is a great pleasure to be here with you today to celebrate with you the splendid achievement of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe in winning the Queen's Award for Enterprise - Innovation 2005. The award recognises the huge contribution of the company's GeoStream Access Gateway technology to the spread of broadband services in the UK. The company can take pride in what it has done - and continues to do - to make sure that the UK has a telecommunications infrastructure fitting for a successful modern economy.

Relations between Japan and the United Kingdom are excellent in all major respects. Our two countries confer and co-operate on all the major issues of global importance. The emergence of such a mature, forward-looking relationship could scarcely have taken place without the solid bedrock of our economic ties, including collaboration in the arena of cutting-edge technology. The success of Fujitsu Telecommunications testifies to the dynamic, mutually-beneficial character of the economic partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Ever since the main flow of Japanese inward investment bound for Europe began just over 30 years ago, the UK has been the most favoured destination for such investment. Successive British governments have gone to great lengths to make this country an attractive and welcoming location for overseas investment, and the factors that attracted Japanese companies at the outset are still in place.

The tremendous contribution of this investment in job creation and other ways is well known. Furthermore, as well as establishing production facilities in this country, a substantial number of Japanese companies have gone as far as establishing research and development operations here, which contributes to the country's scientific base.

Moreover, the flow is not all one way. We are now seeing a steady rise in inward investment into Japan, including that from British companies. This trend is particularly welcome as it accords with the aim expressed by Prime Minister Koizumi two years ago of seeing foreign direct investment in Japan double within five years.

The economic relations between Japan and the United Kingdom continue to flourish in ever more diverse ways. The impressive track record of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe is one of the many positive factors suggesting that this trend will be maintained. I am also pleased to say that this relationship has been strengthened by your company being chosen by BT in April as one their preferred suppliers for big projects such as its "21st century network programme and its further advancement of broadband in the U.K. I commend all of you for what your company has achieved, and wish you every success in your future endeavours.