Management excellence

Yoshio Utsumi is one of the founding fathers of today's competitive telecommunications system in Japan. During his continuing and distinguished career at Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), he has implemented a number of very significant reforms, in which, through balanced innovation, great progress has been achieved, based on sensitivity to the needs of a system and its users as a whole.

Initiating reforms

Among the most important of those reforms, the introduction of the policy of competition and liberalization in telecommunications was advocated by Mr. Utsumi - at a time when such ideas were not widely accepted. This initiative led directly to Japan's first reform of its telecommunications markets.

Promoting multimedia development

Mr. Utsumi has also been a major driving force in many of Japan's most important projects to develop multimedia industries. These projects include the ongoing construction of a nationwide optical-fibre network for advanced communications and the creation of the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATRI).

Restructuring for better services

Within a year of becoming Director-General of Posts, Mr. Utsumi established and largely implemented a plan for the major restructuring of Japan's postal services by enlisting the full cooperation of staff at every level among the 200 000 personnel for whom he was responsible. The plan has not only strengthened the financial basis of postal operations, but also gives users better services at lower costs.

Dedicated leadership

Through his studies abroad and with his large number of contacts and friends around the world, Mr. Utsumi understands the great importance of listening to the full spectrum of international opinion on issues which affect us all. He is fully committed to achieving an international shared vision that will ensure the future success of ITU to the benefit of all nations.

Contributing to the international community

In the field of telecommunications, Mr. Utsumi served as Japan's liaison officer to ITU for three years, as First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva, and in 1993, he was appointed Director-General of International Affairs in MPT, representing Japan at numerous international conferences. He has also played a vital role in many negotiations, such as the historic WTO Negotiations on Basic Telecommunications. Perhaps most familiar to ITU members is Mr. Utsumi's chairmanship of the successful ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Kyoto in 1994, when he was able to witness the initial implementation of the Japanese proposal which he had long encouraged - the creation of the World Telecommunication Policy Forum.

Commitment to ITU's success

For ITU to be successful in sustaining an enhanced role as an essential focus for the advance of telecommunications, it will require energy and focused commitment, as well as the ability and willingness to embrace new ideas and necessary reform. These are all qualities which Yoshio Utsumi displays in abundance. While always welcoming the input of others and seeking to share their ideas, he has both the decisive ability and the vision to lead ITU forward to meet the challenges of the new century.

Background and experience

Mr. Utsumi was born in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, on 14 August 1942. He and his wife Masako, an architect, have a son and a daughter.

Education

1965: Bachelor of Law (B.L.), University of Tokyo

1972: Master of Arts in Political Science (M.A.), University of Chicago

• Chief Executive Officer

1996-1997: Director-General of Posts, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT)

• Senior Policy Maker

1997-present: Deputy Minister, MPT

1990-1991: Assistant Vice-Minister, MPT

– International affairs

1993-1995: Director-General of the International Affairs Department, MPT

1978-1981: First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

– Telecommunications

1991-1993: Deputy Director-General of the Communications Policy Bureau, MPT

1982-1987: Communications Policy Bureau, MPT
• Director of Policy Division
• Director of Computer Communications Division

– Broadcasting

1988-1989: Director of General Affairs Division, Broadcasting Bureau, MPT

– Fund management

1986-1988: Director of Fund Management Division, Postal Life Insurance Bureau, MPT

– Academia

1972-1973: Profession of Public Administration, Postal College, MPT

AN AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE OF ITU

Yoshio Utsumi
Candidate for the post of Secretary-General

TELECOMMUNICATIONS TODAY AND THE MISSION OF ITU

Over the last decade, the world of telecommunications has changed almost beyond recognition. The convergence of various media, as well as the explosive growth in the power of information technology and its unprecedented - but uneven - spread, mean that a bold response is urgently needed to ensure that the benefits of telecommunications are expanded and shared in a fair and effective manner to create a global information society for all humanity.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the only world body capable of fulfilling that mission. But, in order to do so, it must itself be reformed into an effective force that can lead towards the achievement of clear goals. I believe that ITU can achieve these aims by focusing on the following five priorities:

1 Promoting telecommunications development for the benefit of all

Acting as a custodian of the universal right of everyone, everywhere to have access to means of communication and information systems, ITU must strive to close the gaps in this area between industrialized and developing nations by:

• acting as a catalyst for private-sector investment to introduce the technology and services that are most appropriate to meet countries' diverse needs;

• expanding its advisory role to help developing countries in particular to attract investment and use it wisely;

• actively promoting technical transfers and, especially, development of human resources.

Meanwhile, we must ensure effective implementation of the action plan to be decided at the 1998 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Malta. To do so, the most important development programmes must be selected as priorities and detailed plans must be devised for each that include timetables and methods of monitoring progress.

2 Making ITU more efficient and effective

As telecommunications and information technologies advance, introducing a plethora of new services and leading towards a global information society, there is an ever-growing need for ITU to provide a fair and neutral standpoint on issues such as standardization, allocation of frequencies and other technical matters. To meet this need, ITU must become more efficient. Management must focus on clear priorities while access to ITU services, including information resources, must become more streamlined. In addition, the structure of ITU meetings should be examined to improve their effectiveness and the ITU's own communications technology should be used much more extensively to assist participation without the need for travel from distant countries, many of which have very limited budgets for that purpose.

ITU's finances also require detailed consideration. As well as continuing the current contribution system, ITU must increase its income by introducing a market mechanism as extensively and speedily as possible through the method of cost recovery. Furthermore, ITU's overall budget must have greater flexibility to respond to changes in priorities. A truly comprehensive cost analysis must be conducted to discover how best to use its resources as a whole.

The strength of ITU is its membership. However, existing members will be dissatisfied, and potential new members will not be inclined to join, unless ITU offers transparent management. In particular, financial disclosure is vital, so that all can see how their contributions are used.

3 Coordinating policy issues on new services

As a major world body, ITU should help facilitate the introduction of new global services, to the benefit of both users and providers. As part of this effort, the Kyoto Plenipotentiary Conference decided to establish the World Telecommunication Policy Forum, and its first meeting in 1996 was a landmark event in achieving worldwide consensus on implementing global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS). I propose to make the Policy Forum a truly effective part of ITU's structure as a venue for creating a shared vision that enables all Member States and Sector Members to work together towards common goals.

At the same time, ITU's partnerships with other organizations should be strengthened and widened, so that we can work in concert to achieve the development of information infrastructure that is essential for the economic and social growth of every nation.

4 Encouraging participation by the private sector

There is now widespread acceptance of the principles of market liberalization and private investment in telecommunications, as well as increasing reliance on private-sector development of new technologies. Against this background, ITU must give the private sector rights and responsibilities that encourage its greater participation in ITU activities. At the same time, it is one of ITU's most important tasks to foster an environment that facilitates channelling of private-sector resources into the establishment of the global information society and economy.

5 Strengthening ITU's public presence

Improving the public's appreciation of the fundamental role of telecommunications throughout society is also an essential part of ITU's mission. We must make sure that the face of ITU becomes much better known, through publications and other means, and that the importance of its work becomes widely appreciated. To both decision-makers and ordinary citizens, we must get the message across.

My firm commitment to ITU

During the last ten years, under the able leadership of Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, ITU has made great efforts to fortify and extend its central role in world telecommunications. But at the same time, the pace of change in the environment has been accelerating and it has become imperative that further steps be taken to reform ITU so that it can more effectively deliver the invaluable services it provides. Bold initiatives must be taken now to ensure that ITU evolves in steps with the shifting environment and responds energetically to diverse and changing needs. Above all, ITU must be efficient, focused and fair.