WDA Forum Expert Symposium - Demographic Ageing in Japan and Switzerland: Action through Exchange and Dialogue

04 Jun 12

The World Demographic and Ageing Forum on Japan and Switzerland was hosted at Swiss Re’s Centre for Global Dialogue, bringing together academic and industry experts from the two countries. Based on a notion of information sharing, the event covered the challenges of filling labour shortages to support ageing societies, how innovation can ensure healthier, longer lives, the financial demands presented as populations age and government's role in addressing demographic change.

Representatives from the re/insurance industry engaged in a lively discussion about how the experiences in the two countries are of mutual benefit in addressing the situation and the role of the industry in any potential solution.

Moderated by Swiss Re’s Rick Perdian, the panel included Ivo Furrer, CEO Switzerland of Swiss Life, Hirosyasu Hirata, Chief Representative, London Representative Office for Nippon Life, along with Swiss Re's Kenichi Kasai, Head of Client Markets Life & Health Japan and Stephen Kramer, Head of Epidemiological Research. With the debate framed around how we could honour retirement obligations while being equitable to a younger generation, the brief opening statements of Kasai and Furrer provided insight into the Life & Health insurance situation of Japan and Switzerland respectively.

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