TOKYO: A self-driving car service could be on Tokyo’s public roads in time for the 2020 Olympics as Japan looks to drive investment in new technology to drive economic growth, according to a government strategic review announced on Monday.
The strategy, presented at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also includes plans to allow the development of virtual power plants by the fiscal year ending March 2022.
The proposals are part of a larger package of fiscal and economic policies the government aims to compile by the end of the month.
The review said the government plans to begin testing a driverless car system on public roads sometime this fiscal year with the goal of launching a self-driving car service for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The government will then try to commercialize this system as early as 2022.
Economists see enormous potential in the development of autonomous vehicle and artificial intelligence technologies, which could help businesses cope with an aging and declining workforce. However, Japanese companies have struggled to keep up with their Chinese, European and US counterparts in implementing such innovations into their work practices.
Japan’s economy contracted in the first quarter, ending eight straight quarters of growth, which was the longest continuous expansion since the 1980s bubble economy.
Since taking office in late 2012, Abe has introduced several gradual changes that have benefited the economy by drawing more women into the workforce, narrowing the pay gap between regular and contract employees, increasing inbound tourism, and slowly opening the door to foreign labor.
This year’s growth strategy focused more on promoting technology and changing some regulations to make it easier for companies to do business.
The government also plans to change regulations for universities to make it easier for students to earn multi-disciplinary degrees needed to work in artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the review flagged a plan to allow for virtual power plants by fiscal 2021. Virtual power plants connect several small energy-generating and energy-storage systems, allowing them to collectively work like a large conventional power plant, which could help energy grid operators save money.
While the benefits of such systems are known, companies have been reluctant to invest in deploying these networks unless regulations allow them to easily distribute their energy across the power grid.
Japan looks to launch driverless car system in Tokyo by 2020
Japan looks to launch driverless car system in Tokyo by 2020
Lloyd’s market engaging with US government over Gulf maritime plan, officials say
LONDON: The Lloyd’s of London market is engaging with the US government’s International Development Finance Corporation over a plan to provide political risk insurance and guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf, Lloyd’s market officials said on Thursday.
“Lloyd’s is engaging constructively with the US Development Finance Corporation and relevant stakeholders, with a clear focus on ensuring that the Lloyd’s market continues to lead as the global center of excellence for war risk insurance,” a Lloyd’s spokesperson said.
The Lloyd’s Market Association, which represents the interests of all underwriting businesses in the Lloyd’s market, welcomed the engagement of US President Donald Trump, its CEO Sheila Cameron said separately in a statement on Thursday.
“Since Sunday 1 March, there have been at least 40 transits of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. There remain approximately 1,000 vessels, approximately half of which are oil and gas tankers, with an aggregate hull value exceeding $25 billion in the Persian/Arabian Gulf and surrounding waters,” Cameron said, citing data.
Cameron added that the vast majority of these vessels were insured in the London market and insurance “currently remains in place.”
Insurance broker Marsh said on Wednesday it had met with US officials to explore solutions for restoring maritime trade.
The US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday, adding he had ordered the International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf.
Earlier this week, London’s marine insurance market widened the area in the Gulf it deems as high risk as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.
