The 74th National Convention of Small and Medium Enterprise Associations, the first in Nagasaki Prefecture, was held at Dejima Messe Nagasaki with 2,000 people from all over the country. Although there have been requests to host the event in the past, the bid has been postponed due to a lack of venues and accommodation facilities, etc. However, as the region is currently undergoing a once-in-a-century period of transformation, it was decided that the event would be held three years ago. We have been progressing. In addition to the development of the tournament facilities, Nagasaki Station, which is directly connected to Nagasaki Station, and surrounding facilities, the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, which opened just before the tournament, has also attracted attention, making it the perfect time to promote Nagasaki as it continues to evolve into the future. I think it became.

The conference was held as the consensus of approximately 30,000 unions organized by small and medium-sized businesses across the country, appealing to the government and other institutions to strengthen measures for small and medium-sized enterprises based on the actual situation, and to promote sustainable growth and development and the creation of prosperous local communities. The event will be held on a rotating basis every year. Despite being affected by the coronavirus pandemic over the past few years, the tournament facilities have taken thorough measures against the coronavirus, and the convention hall, the ceremony venue, has a ventilation function that exceeds the standards recommended by the government, We have promoted our facility as a facility that people can visit with peace of mind. In fact, it was the first time in three years that the main ceremony was held, and I believe that we were able to prepare for it in the best possible way.

In particular, in addition to projects that highlight the uniqueness of Nagasaki to please people from outside the prefecture, we also organize tours from each prefecture to coincide with the tournament's participation, visiting sightseeing spots within the prefecture, etc., to enjoy exotic history, culture, food, etc. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed our area, which is rich in tourist resources.

The theme of the tournament“Connecting, Expanding, Bridges of Collaboration – A Future of Hope, Bringing together the Light of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”In particular, the concept of the second sub-theme is based on the fact that Nagasaki has been re-certified as one of the "World's New Three Great Night Views" amidst the chaotic situation of the coronavirus pandemic, and that now is the time for small and medium-sized enterprises facing difficult issues. We liken it to ``light,'' and our hope is that the light will gather in Nagasaki from all over the country, and that we will carve out a future of hope through the bonds of cooperation.

In addition, as attractions to welcome everyone, in addition to performances of Nagasaki Kunchi's ``Shachi Taiko'' and a production of the river drama ``Henmen,'' we also held ``Erhu'' performances at welcome receptions for guests, which were very well received. It looks like you received it. Furthermore, with the cooperation of the Nagasaki Prefecture Products Promotion Association, we held the Nagasaki Products Exhibition at the ceremony venue. Although the installation was only held in the afternoon of the same day, sales were greater than expected, and exhibitors were happy to hear that they would like to do it again next year.

As part of our welcome and hospitality, we will utilize services provided by the Nagasaki International Tourism and Convention Association to provide an ``advertisement display service (welcome)'' inside Nagasaki Airport, the gateway to the skies, and a ``meal/welcome service'' just before the tournament. We are promoting participation in the tournament by distributing web flyers that allow you to check information on souvenirs, experiences, accommodations, etc. on your smartphone, and by providing a baggage delivery service for people using designated accommodation facilities in Nagasaki City. We worked to build momentum and spread the word about our services.

On the other hand, if we were to reflect on this, although the convention association provided member restaurants, etc. with information about the convention in advance, we believe that wider dissemination to downtown areas, etc., was necessary. Although the ``baggage delivery service'' was launched just in time for the opening of the ``Nishikyushu Shinkansen,'' I think it would have been better to collect and provide information sooner.

As a side note, with the cooperation of Nagasaki Prefecture, Nagasaki City, etc., we have created a temporary parking lot for large buses at the east exit of Nagasaki Station to address the issue of parking and traffic congestion, which was a major concern due to the location of Nagasaki City. We were very lucky to be able to secure the bus, and there was no major confusion or crowding when getting on and off the bus, which was a huge relief.

The area around Nagasaki Station and the city center is undergoing large-scale redevelopment, which is said to be a once-in-a-century period of transformation, and we hope to utilize the tourism strengths of this newly reborn area to further promote the appeal of Nagasaki. I wish I had.
We would like to ask you to invite the tournament to Nagasaki.