East Asian Insurance Day
Oct. 18, 2021
One of the most important activities of the General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ) is to promote mutual understanding and interchanges with overseas general insurance markets through the exchange of information and opinions, including active participation in the East Asian Insurance Congress (EAIC), which is the biggest international insurance conference in Asia.
On the occasion of the East Asian Insurance Day, which was launched in 2006 by the EAIC to help the public gain a better understanding of the role of insurance in East Asia, Mr. Shinichiro Funabiki, Chairman of the GIAJ has delivered a message both at home and abroad.
Greetings in commemoration of the East Asian Insurance Day
To commemorate the fifteenth annual “East Asian Insurance Day” (October 18), which was established by the East Asian Insurance Congress (EAIC), I would like to send my heartfelt greetings on behalf of the General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ).
First of all, I wish to offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives due to Covid-19 and extend my sympathies to all who have been affected.
I would also like to express my deep gratitude to all the essential workers who make it possible for our day-to-day lives to go on uninterrupted.
The EAIC, which held its first congress on October 18, 1962 with only around 20 overseas participants, has grown into the largest insurance congress in Asia with more than 2,000 attendees from 23 regions.
East Asian Insurance Day was enacted in 2006 with the purpose of promoting the role and importance of insurance, as well as the activities of the EAIC in each region.
I believe that to promote and raise the level of insurance penetration in each region is an important and highly public initiative, which is very beneficial for the development of a sound economy and prosperous society in East Asia.
Mr. Shinichiro Funabiki, Chairman
The General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ)
Every year since 1972, the GIAJ has been hosting the ISJ, an international insurance technical assistance program for industry professionals in East Asia. The ISJ was established in response to an EAIC request and a recommendation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Backed with a long history of helping professionals of the insurance industry throughout East Asia, the ISJ has more than 2,190 graduates and is today highly regarded by all participating regions.
Due to Covid-19, we had to move ISJ online this year, but we are pleased we were able to keep this tradition going.
On East Asian Insurance Day, the GIAJ will continue to implement the following initiatives from the perspective of raising public awareness of the role and importance of insurance, as well as the activities of the EAIC:
1) Utilize the GIAJ’s website and insurance business publications for communication and public affairs.
2) Contact about 2,190 ISJ graduates to celebrate East Asian Insurance Day and encourage them to attend the next EAIC.
The general insurance industry continues to play a large role in realizing a safe and secure society for all, not only by demonstrating the principle role of general insurance, which is to compensate economic losses caused by accidents and disasters, but also by investing resources to strengthen disaster prevention and reduction initiatives.
In this regard, the rise in the number of natural disasters driven by climate change and the occurrence of pandemics pose new challenges for us.
We, as an industry, will work to maintain the long-term functions of the general insurance system, which serves an important social infrastructure that supports our society and the economy.
To conclude, I hope that East Asian Insurance Day serves as a good opportunity for everyone who works in the industry in all regions to reaffirm the role of insurance in helping to solve social issues and promote the importance of cooperation between East Asian regions through the EAIC.
I offer my warmest congratulations on this commemorative day, and hope that the East Asian insurance market will continue to progress far into the future.