On October 14, the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) published its recommendations titled "The Future of Logistics Towards 2030."
The recommendations acknowledge that as of June of this year, approximately 70% of the measures included in the current Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline (planning period 2021-2025) were deemed "unfulfilled." Therefore, the recommendations list the following measures to be addressed over the next five years: "reforming the awareness of the business community and consumers to review business practices," "promoting new modal shifts," "smartening logistics operations," "measures contributing to strengthening international competitiveness and growth strategies," "promoting green transformation," and "cross-sectoral policies." The recommendations then state, "We strongly expect the government, under strong leadership, to reflect many of the measures described in these recommendations in the next outline and to develop logistics policies toward growth as an industry while ensuring the sustainability of logistics."
Regarding "reforming the awareness of the business community and consumers to review business practices," the report cites measures such as diversifying and making designated delivery times more flexible, extending delivery lead times, and appropriate contracts for rental pallets to reduce the burden on truck drivers. It also explains that "promoting a new modal shift" requires "steadily promoting a new modal shift, including truck transport and air cargo, and implementing measures to ensure that each mode of transport plays its role and forms the optimal modal combination."
<"Reforming the awareness of the business community and consumers in order to review business practices">
Regarding the "smartification of logistics sites," the report suggests that the government should provide subsidies to encourage the introduction and widespread adoption of systems such as truck reservation acceptance, loading/unloading time measurement, and joint transportation matching, even by small and medium-sized businesses with limited financial resources. Furthermore, as the shift from barcodes to two-dimensional codes progresses in traceability management in the distribution and retail industries, the report suggests that the government should encourage the use of global standard codes managed by GS1 Japan (Distribution Systems Development Center) to prevent each company from developing its own proprietary codes.
Regarding "cross-sectoral policies," the report states that, with the mandatory appointment of Chief Logistics Officers (CLOs) by specific shippers starting in fiscal year 2026, a system should be introduced that allows parent companies to jointly manage the CLOs of their group companies if they so desire. It also points out that the government should consider presenting a collection of case studies outlining what kinds of logistics investments are desirable for CLOs to make long-term investment decisions.
Looking ahead, the report emphasizes that "in order to realize a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution, it is essential to develop logistics policies as a 'growth strategy' that supports the global business expansion of companies located in Japan," and states that "the next comprehensive plan should define policy directions that aim to address two perspectives: ensuring the sustainability of logistics, which is an urgent issue, and logistics as a growth strategy that should be pursued strategically from a medium- to long-term perspective."
