Mankind has embarked on an endeavor to shift the world to a sustainable path. The issues that pose challenges in this endeavor have been classified as the 17 goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are common goals for the world.

In Japan, too, various issues that could affect the sustainability of society, including local communities, and the lives of the citizenry, have emerged as a result of changes in socioeconomic conditions, such as population decline and aging. In order to resolve those issues, not only support by the national and local governments but also efforts by various other stakeholders are essential. In particular, it is imperative that the unique creativity and innovation of the private sector be exercised to resolve issues that are difficult for the government sector alone to deal with. At present, many private-sector organizations have already entered fields where social issues have arisen and are flexibly and nimbly conducting public interest activities to resolve them. However, those private-sector organizations are small and their resources for continuing and developing activities are insufficient, consequently the spillover effects of their activities on the entire society are limited. In order to make their activities more effective, it is essential to continuously conduct innovative initiatives to resolve social issues, including strengthening the infrastructure for private-sector activities, fostering necessary skills, and trying new approaches to the activities, by bringing together wisdom from across the private sector.

In light of this situation, in December 2016, the Act on Utilization of Funds Related to Dormant Deposits to Promote Public Interest Activities by the Private Sector was enacted. As a result of the full entry-into-force of this Act on January 1, 2018, an initiative to promote public interest activities by the private sector through the utilization of dormant deposits started. This initiative is expected to accelerate the creation and diffusion of businesses that lead to the resolution of various social issues. In addition, by fostering the skills necessary for implementing and supporting public interest activities by the private sector and by establishing efficient and effective systems for assessment of results and information disclosure, the initiative is expected to improve the environment for such activities. Promoting public interest activities by the private sector through the utilization of dormant deposits is a sort of social experiment that is unprecedented in Japan. In order to make a success of this initiative, it is essential for all stakeholders across Japan to participate in it.

Therefore, we will establish the Japan Network for Public Interest Activities, a general incorporated foundation that is intended to operate as the Designated Utilization Organization under the Act on Utilization of Funds Related to Dormant Deposits to Promote Public Interest Activities by the Private Sector.

In order to promote public interest activities by the private sector through the utilization of dormant deposits, the Japan Network for Public Interest Activities will seek to maximize the achievements of the initiative to promote public interest activities by the private sector in a fair and transparent manner by making full use of internal and external wisdom in cooperation with a great variety of stakeholders throughout Japan based on the purpose of the legislation.

By further invigorating pubic interest activities by the private sector, we aim to make social change happen so that we can pass a sustainable society on to future children.