EAIC Day marks 63 years of building insurance bridges across East Asia

As the East Asian Insurance Congress celebrates its founding day on October 18, EAIC General Secretary Masayuki Tanaka reflects on the organization's six-decade legacy of cooperation and looks ahead to tackling urgent challenges including poverty, healthcare access, and insurance literacy across the region. His message is printed in full below:

I would like to extend my sincere greetings on the occasion of the East Asian Insurance Day for 2025.

October 18 marks the memorable day when the first EAIC was held in Tokyo in 1962, and it is regarded as a symbol of collaboration and mutual understanding within the insurance industry in the East Asian region.

The EAIC was established as an international conference adopting a rotating host city system and excluding political and religious influences, originating from the friendship between Mr. Sevilla of National Life Insurance Company of the Philippines and Mr. Taizo Fukumuro, who later became the first Managing Director of FALIA. For over 60 years, the EAIC has served as an “open bridge” connecting the insurance industry in the East Asian region, functioning as a value-driven network that emphasizes trust, cooperation, and solidarity, unconstrained by formality.

At the first Tokyo conference, Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda sent a congratulatory message, expressing his hope that life insurance, based on the spirit of mutual aid, would contribute to the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the nation. This vision was ahead of its time and resonates with today’s SDG Goal 3: “Good Health and Well-being.” The founding philosophy of the EAIC continues to live on across generations.

On the other hand, Asia still faces significant challenges such as disparities and poverty, and it has been pointed out that the number of people living in extreme poverty has increased since the pandemic. Ensuring universal health coverage and securing access to medical care are urgent issues, and the role of insurance as a social infrastructure to prepare for risks is becoming ever more important.

Going forward, it is essential for the EAIC to continue promoting collaboration among Asian countries, enhancing insurance literacy, and contributing to the development of better insurance systems. On the East Asian Insurance Day, I would like to renew my respect for the founding spirit and sincerely hope that, through insurance, we can contribute to the improvement of health and well-being of people and the sustainable growth of the Asian region.

Further, Life Insurance Association of Japan Chairperson Yukinori Takada also had his own sentiments to share regarding EAIC Day:

"In recent years, Japan’s social environment has changed rapidly, including a declining birthrate, an aging population, a growing demand for medical and nursing care, and a severe labor shortage. Globally, emerging threats such as intensifying natural disasters and cyber risks are having serious impact on people’s lives. In this era of transformation, the role of the insurance sector—to provide reliable protection and peace of mind for the future—is becoming increasingly important throughout the East Asian region," he said.

"To fulfill our mission of expanding reliable security and trust, and contributing to a better co-existing future, we will continue to advance our initiatives with sincerity and unwavering commitment based on three core points: “promotion of customer-oriented business operation”, “a sustainable society and contribution to a better future”, and “dissemination of information for a sound development of the life insurance industry”. We believe these initiatives are not only vital for Japan, but also for the East Asian region. We hope to share perspectives and responsibilities regarding the role of insurance in supporting local communities with our counterparts across the East Asian region."

He added that the 31st EAIC in 2026 will return to Japan for the first time in 24 years.

"Under the conference slogan 'Back to the Origin, A Bridge to the Future ~Asia Reunites at Tokyo~,' the conference presents a meaningful opportunity to revisit the founding values of EAIC and strengthen regional cooperation for the future. Together with the General Insurance Association of Japan (the GIAJ), we will co-host and fully commit to ensuring the success of this conference. Through this international initiative, we aim to bring together, diverse insights and experiences from across the East Asian region, foster mutual learning, and share perspectives that support the sound development and credibility of the insurance sector, ultimately contributing to the well-being of citizens," he said.

"I sincerely hope that East Asian Insurance Day will serve as a meaningful opportunity to recognize the social role of insurance and inspire the industry to unite in shaping a better future."

Source: www.asiainsurancereview.com