FUJIYOSHIDA, Yamanashi Pref. -- About 40 percent of respondents to a Japan Federation of Employers' Associations (Nikkeiren) survey support a merger with the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), according to a report released Thursday.
A team set up by Nikkeiren in May to consider the proposed consolidation interviewed or delivered questionnaires to 293 business leaders, labor union directors, high-level government officials and intellectuals. Of these, 128 responded -- including 107 leaders of Nikkeiren's member organizations.
Around 40 percent of the respondents said the two business groups should merge, citing reasons including an increase in the two groups' influence on national policy and improved efficiency within business circles, according to a report based on the results of the survey.