Program for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Centerand Direct Investment into Japan
December 16, 2011
Finalized at the Conference on Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Centerand Direct Investment into Japan
June 22, 2012 Follow-up
I.

Basic Philosophy(Revitalizing the competitiveness of Japan as a business location)
Japan’s competitiveness as a business location has recently been weakened significantly due
to the sharp appreciation of the yen and other factors. To make matters worse, many countries
in the world are now intent on strengthening their competitiveness as a business location andthus luring foreign businesses. This might in turn prompt the accelerated exodus overseas ofbusinesses that support the economic growth of Japan. These circumstances make it crucial
for Japan to review its laws and regulations in a strategic and proactive manner so as to makeits investment environment more attractive to businesses in Japan and abroad and thus regain
its locational competitiveness.
(Encouraging FDI (foreign direct investment) into Japan is key to Japan’s revitalization)
Increasing FDI into Japan will help Japan boost its productivity and create employment
through the inflow of management resources such as expertise in business management aswell as technologies and human resources. The inflow of such funds over the mid to longterm is expected to boost the growth potential of Japan whose population is shrinking andcontribute to sustainable economic growth and increasing job opportunities. Encouraging
capital inflows through increasing FDI is all the more important amid concerns that Japanmight slip into a current account deficit.
(Towards realizing the New Growth Strategy)
Based on such recognition, the Program focuses on measures for making Japan’s business andliving environment attractive on a global level with a view to encouraging FDI into Japan.
The idea is to draw in the growth potential of Asia and other emerging regions, which arerecording remarkable growth, and vitalize Japan’s economy. These measures have beenprioritized in policies such as the New Growth Strategy1 and the Strategies to Revitalize
Japan2.
(Revitalizing Japan as an Asian Business Center)To that end, the Program focuses on attracting high value-added sites such as Asia Regional
Headquarters and research and development facilities with high levels of intelligent
integration while taking advantage of Japan’s strengths. The Program also aims to accelerate
the flow of people, goods, and money and increase the sustainable and stable FDI in Japan by,
1
2

Cabinet decision in June 2010
Cabinet decision in December 20111

for example, promoting high-level economic partnerships with other countries, so as to ensurethat employment opportunities will be created.
(Realizing “open reconstruction” by promoting FDI in Japan)
In order to promote smooth and rapid reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake, it
is important to both rebuild communities that were hit by the earthquake and revitalize theJapanese economy by strengthening Japan’s bonds with international society and drawing in
the vitality of foreign countries. In particular, creating stable employment on a large scale isan important issue for these communities. The government will undertake “openreconstruction” by promoting FDI in these communities in order to create quality employment.
(Building a Japan that launches out in the world)
To achieve these goals, the Program has three targets to be achieved by 2020 with focus on
the “quality” of FDI as described in Section II. To attain these three targets, the Program setsout five central initiatives as shown in Section III.
(Creative innovation for the future)
A series of programs3 have succeeded in easing some of the regulations described as
obstacles to FDI into Japan. Efforts have also been made to improve the framework forinvestment support, including provision of information for foreign investors. Based on thesesuccessful outcomes, Japan continues its efforts to make Japan a globally attractive place tolocate a business. Such efforts include identifying issues to be addressed to attract FDI into
Japan as well as ensuring that the Program is implemented properly.

II.

Three Targets

The Program sets out three targets to be achieved by 20204 as shown below:
1)

Increase the Number of High Value-Added Sites

The aim is to increase the number of high value-added sites (Asia Regional Headquarters andresearch and development facilities) by 30 each year by luring FDI. As of the end of FY2009,
there were approximately 500 high value-added sites in Japan.5
2) Double the Number of Employees of Foreign Affiliates (from 750,000 to 2,000,000)
The aim is to increase the number of employees of foreign affiliates (defined as those with aforeign ownership ratio of more than one-third) from about 750,000 in 2006 to 2,000,000 by
3

4
5

They include the Program for the Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan (asendorsed by the Japan Investment Council or JIC in 2003) and the Program for Acceleration of
Foreign Direct Investment in Japan (as endorsed by JIC in 2006 and amended by JIC Expert
Committee in 2008).
The three targets have already been endorsed by the Cabinet in the New Growth Strategy.
Progress will be monitored based on the Survey of Trends in Business Activities of Foreign
Affiliates by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
2

2020.6
3) Double Direct Investment into Japan
This goal refers to expanding the FDI inward stock to 35 trillion yen by the end of 20207 (itstood at 17.5 trillion yen at the end of 2011). The government will set supplementary
indicators8 in order to gain a detailed picture of actual investment in Japan and check thattargets are being achieved from various perspectives.

III.

Five Central Initiatives

The Program sets out five central initiatives and identifies specific measures under these
initiatives.
The five central initiatives are:1) The initiative to boost profitability to promote investment
2) The initiative to utilize a special zone system to attract investment
3) The initiative to improve the investment environment and create structure forinvestment support4) The initiative to make the living environment at investment sites more comfortable5) The initiative to enrich the dissemination of information welcoming investment
Progress in implementing the program will be managed using the PDCA cycle9, and thisincludes holding the Conference on Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center and Direct
Investment into Japan in the middle of each year.

IV. The Five Initiative and Selected Measures
For each initiative, selected measures are categorized under A, B, and C.
A: Measures already completed or underway
B: Measures officially set for implementation
C: Measures that should be augmented for future implementation

6

7
8

9

Progress will be monitored based on the Economic Census for Business Frame and theEconomic Census for Business Activity, both conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications (MIC). (The number stood at about 860,000 as of the end of 2009.)
MOF uses the international investment position of Japan.
Supplementary indicators are set to qualitatively ensure progress in achieving the goal of
doubling the foreign direct investment inward stock by obtaining a detailed picture ofinvestment in Japan, which includes taking into consideration factors such as the global
economy and Japan’s economic growth. Supplementary indicators include foreign direct
investment in Japan as percentage of GDP and the number and value of mergers or
acquisition of Japanese companies by foreign companies.
Plan, Do, Check, and Act.
3

1) The initiative to boost profitability to promote investment<Aim>
This initiative is aimed at proactively luring businesses from abroad by boosting thecompetitiveness of Japan as a business location and creating a world-class investment
environment. This will be achieved by providing more incentives such as subsidies andpreferential tax treatment. Specific tools include location subsidies for both domestic andforeign businesses alike based on the non-discriminatory principle and corporate tax breaks
for global businesses.
<A: Measures already completed or underway>
A-1: The government allocated 2.5 billion yen in the FY2010 supplementary budget and FY
2011 budget for the Subsidy Program for Projects Promoting Asia Site Location in
Japan, launching support for high value-added sites. It accepted applications in English
as well and selected 15 companies. [METI (JETRO)]
A-2: The government earmarked 500.0 billion yen in the FY 2011 supplementary budget for
the Location Subsidy Fund and provided both Japanese and foreign companies withsupport for establishing production/R&D bases related to high-added-value fields. For
the first round of these subsidies, a total of 245 companies, including 5 foreigncompanies, were selected to receive 202.3 billion yen in subsidies. The Fukushima
Industry Revitalization and Company Location Support Program targets Fukushima
Prefecture, which sustained major damage from the nuclear accident. The government
accepted the first round of program applications, and 167 companies were selected toreceive subsidies. [METI]
A-3: The provision included in the FY 2011 Tax Reform Act to lower the effective corporate
tax rate by 5 percentage points came into effect in 2012. This will reduce the tax burden
on corporations after the temporary surtax on corporate tax for financial resources ofearthquake reconstruction for a period of three years, which simultaneously came into
effect, ends. [METI (MOF)]
A-4: The government considers reenergizing business activity within Japan and maintaining
or expanding employment are important issues. To that end, the tax system will beappropriately used as a major policy tool to implement the New Growth Strategy andrevitalize Japan.[ government offices concerned]<B: Measures officially set for implementation>
B-1: The government earmarked 500 million yen for the Subsidy Program for Projects
Promoting Asia Site Location in Japan in the FY2012 budget. Applications in English
will be accepted.[METI (JETRO)]
B-2: The government is working to establish the Law for Promoting Japan as an AsianBusiness Center. The law will allow for cuts in the corporate tax for qualified
businesses and other measures to lure R&D facilities and “Asian headquarters” ofglobal businesses in anticipation of job creation among other benefits. [METI (MOF)]4B-3: The government will lure 30 high value-added sites annually by improving support for
global businesses in high value-added sectors through an early establishment of the Law
for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center (B-2), the continuation and expansionof location subsidies (B-1), and other means. [METI]2) The initiative to utilize a special zone system to attract investment<Aim>
This initiative is aimed at luring investment from businesses in Japan and abroad by taking
advantage of the comprehensive special zone system (involving International StrategicComprehensive Special Zones and Local Vitalization Comprehensive Special Zones) and the“FutureCity” and the Recovery Special Zone System. Through these means, the central
government will be strategically aligned with local governments to create jobs in thesecommunities<A: Measures already completed or underway>
A-5: The government has solicited proposals related to regulatory exceptions in special zones
for structural reform 21 times, and implemented 750 regulatory reforms for the first 20
rounds of proposals. In addition, 1,171 special zones for structural reform plans thatmake use of regulatory exceptions have been approved (as of Mach 31, 2012). The
government has also approved a special zone for structural reform plan related to efforts
such as smoothing the acceptance of talented foreign researchers. [Regional
Revitalization Bureau Cabinet Secretariat]
A-6: As for comprehensive special zones for international competitiveness development andcomprehensive special zones for local revitalization, where bold measures, including
exemptions from regulations and tax, fiscal, and financial incentives, are taken to boost
the international competitiveness of Japan’s industry and promote regional revitalization,
the government designated 7 comprehensive special zones for international
competitiveness development and 26 comprehensive special zones for local
revitalization during the first round, which ran through the end of 2011. Starting in 2012,
councils between the central and local governments debate issues such as exemptions
from regulations in comprehensive special zones for international competitivenessdevelopment that promote concentration of foreign companies. In addition, the second
round of designations is expected to be made in July 2012. [Regional Revitalization
Bureau Cabinet Secretariat (MOF)]
A-7: The government selected 11 model cities for the “FutureCity” Initiative in December
2011, which aimed at creating world-class best practices in future-oriented technologies,
mechanisms, service delivery, and community development and disseminating them inJapan and abroad. The selected model cities launched respective “FutureCity” plansin May 2012. The model cities have since been working towards creating best practices
by using inter-city networks and attracting investment from businesses in Japan andabroad. [Regional Revitalization Bureau Cabinet Secretariat (government offices
concerned)]
A-8: The government created a system of recovery special zones, in which exemptions from5

regulations and tax, fiscal and financial incentives are managed in an integrated manner.
The goal is to bring together the collective wisdom of the world and focus it onreconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake under the banner of “openreconstruction” while making use of local initiatives. As of the end of May, thegovernment approved 14 reconstruction promotion plans for such zones. Through therecovery special zone system, the government offers preferential treatment to attract
investment from Japan and abroad, and this includes a five-year exemption from
corporate tax for businesses newly set up in such zones. [Reconstruction Agency(MOF)]
3) The initiative to improve the investment environment and create a new framework forsupporting investment<Aim>
This initiative is aimed at making the flow of human and material resources more efficientand expedient by such means as cultivating global human resources, establishing hubs forstate-of-the-art research and education, and building social capital including airports andseaports for the overall goal of increasing the flow of people, goods, money. Anotherobjective is to review regulations that pose as obstacles to FDI in Japan.
Other objectives include improving the transparency of related administrative procedures andthe convenience of accessing information and providing English translations of suchprocedures<A: Measures already completed or underway>
A-9:

The government is implementing the Comprehensive Industry Attraction Plan toremove obstacles to investments and companies locating in Japan and to reduce theburden on both Japanese and foreign businesses. The government has divided Japan
into 9 blocks, and headquarters for the promotion of domestic investment, composedof entities such as the business community, local agencies, and local governments, wasestablished for each block. [METI]

A-10: The government has established a new framework for investment support for foreignbusinesses with the use of the Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) at theJapan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Exclusive staff members and advisors on
tax and labor affairs at JETRO offer consultations on establishing business sites.
JETRO offers information in English at its website, including the webpage on“Regional Information.” [JETRO]
A-11: The government is moving forward with efforts such as creating a system to train
global human resources, and these efforts include having the Council on Promotion of
Human Resource for Globalization Development compile a Global Human Resource
Development Strategy. [CAS (MEXT, MOFA, MHLW, METI)]
A-12: To foster Global Human Resources who will play a major role in supporting the future
growth of Japan and establish a framework in which such human resource can be
active, the government is working strategically to achieve the target of sending
300,000 Japanese students and workers abroad and accepting 300,000 foreign students
in Japan for study and training along with enhancing the internationalization of6colleges and universities and improving English education. It is also developing hubs
for state-of-the-art research and education that attract businesses and people fromaround the world. [MEXT]
A-13: To encourage the inflow of highly-skilled foreign professionals, the government
introduced a system of offering preferential treatment in terms of immigration utilizing
a point-based system in May 2012. [MOJ (MHLW, METI)]
A-14: The government has been steadily promoting measures designed to build vibrant andhigh-quality financial capital markets that are fair, transparent, and open to businesses,
both domestic and abroad. Among these measures is the development of various
systems including a disclosure system to smoothly conduct rights offering in Japanand one to expand the scope of disclosure material that institutions, such as foreigncompanies, are permitted to release in English. [FSA]
A-15: The government has been making steady efforts to increase the number of departureand arrival slots at Narita Airport and Haneda Airport in accordance with the New
Growth Strategy for more efficient cross-border flow of human and material
resources. The government selected International Container Strategic Ports in 2010
and International Bulk Strategic Ports in 2011 as part of efforts to strengthen thecapacity of airports and seaports as social capital through the process of selection andconcentration. Haneda Airport started full-fledged operations for international regularflights in 2010 for the first time in 32 years. [MLIT]
A-16: The government has been working to build a framework of “Open Skies” including
metropolitan airports with top priority given to Asia. So far, Japan has madearrangements on “Open Skies” with the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Malaysia andso on. [MLIT (MOFA)]
A-17: The government moved forward with creating a more favorable environment forwelcoming business jets so that they can fly into Japan. The government hasannounced that it will create a business jet only terminal at Narita International Airport(which will be available from March 2012), provide information both in Japan andoverseas, and set operation and maintenance standards for small business jet charter
operations (March 2012). [MLIT]
A-18: In cooperation with the private sector, the government has boldly taken various steps
such as implementing the Visit Japan program and attracting and holding MICE10,
such as international conferences, exhibitions, etc., which create business
opportunities. In March 2012, the government established a new Nation Tourism
Promotion Basic Plan, which sets various goals such as increasing the number ofinternational conferences held in Japan at least 50% by 2016 and holding the largest
number of events in Asia. [MLIT]<B: Measures officially set for implementation>
B-4:
10

Headquarters for the promotion of domestic investment will continue to make efforts

MICE is the general term for meetings (organized by businesses and other entities), incentives(offered by businesses and other entities, including study tours), conventions (international
conventions), and exhibitions/events (including trade fairs).
7

that reflect actual conditions in the community. [METI]
B-5:

JETRO will support 600 or more businesses with priority projects annually on the
average by focusing on luring foreign businesses in sectors with a significant impact
on the economy, including high value-added sectors with high levels of intelligent
integration such as life science, information and communication, energy, and theenvironment, in addition to projects that help promoting Japan as an Asian businesscenter. [JETRO]

B-6:

The government and JETRO will further strengthen one-stop services regarding
administrative procedures for registration, tax and labor applications by foreignbusinesses in making FDI in Japan, in coordination with government offices
concerned. It will also provide more opportunities for foreign businesses to conductsite visits in Japan or business matching services. In addition, the government and
JETRO will share information on incentives offered by local governments in a timely
manner. The central government and JETRO will work closely with local
governments to lure foreign businesses on such occasions as sales promotion
conducted by local government heads. [JETRO (government offices concerned)]

B-7:

As for requirements on deferred taxation related to restructuring (including triangularmergers), the government will continue to properly handle advance inquiries in order
to increase transparency. From the inquiries it has received, the government selects
ones that will make it easier for companies to predict how the government will
respond and publishes them as practical examples. The government released four newpractical examples related to restructuring. [MOF]

B-8:

The government will decide an interim draft proposal for reform of the Civil Code by
the beginning of 2013 in order to make contract rules more suitable for globalized
economy and make them more understandable for foreign investors. [MOJ]

B-9:

In order to encourage the active acceptance of highly-skilled foreign workers, thegovernment will release information on making use of the point system to entities suchas the business community and related organizations and move forward with efforts to
attract foreigner workers in cooperation with related organizations. [METI (MOJ)]

B-10: The government has established the METI Global Human Resource Development
Internship Program, in which young Japanese company employees and students aresent as interns to organizations such as the governments of developing countries,
government related bodies, and private corporations in order to develop global humanresources for small and medium-size companies and similar organizations. [METI]
B-11: During the first part of 2013, the Council on Immigration Control Administration in
the Era of 25 Million Visitors from Abroad, a personal advisory body to the Ministerof Justice, plans on submitting a final report on various issues such as future
immigration screenings methods that make it possible to conduct strict but smoothscreening in a short time. Measures will be implemented as needed starting with thosethat are feasible. [MOJ]
B-12: Taking into consideration developing a technical information network in cooperation
with related ministries in order to create an efficient environment for accepting
8

foreigners (strengthening the visa screening system), the government will move
forward with making visa screening more streamlined and rigorous . [MOFA]
B-13: The government will continue to expand the framework of “Open Skies” involving
metropolitan airports to include other Asian countries and other regions so as to further
enhance the international airline network. [MLIT (MOFA)]
B-14: The government will enhance city center functions of major cities, such as Tokyo,
which was designated an international strategic comprehensive special zones, bydirectly linking the suburbs with the city center and the city center with international
hub airports and increasing speed and convenience, thus, increasing Japan’scompetitiveness as an Asian hub. [MLIT]
B-15: The government will promote high-level economic partnerships in a strategic andmultifaceted manner based on the Basic Policy on Comprehensive Economic
Partnerships. [MOFA, METI, MOF, MAFF (government offices concerned)]
B-16: The government will steadily implement “the Action Program for Acceleration of
Medical Device Review”, which was devised in FY2008, and make review procedures
more clear and transparent. [MHLW]
B-17: The government will continue to make information about Japanese laws andordinances more widely available internationally, by releasing additional English
translations of laws and ordinances based on the Translation Development Plan, andby publishing updated versions of the Standard Legal Terms Dictionary. [MOJ
(government offices concerned)]
B-18: The government will develop more advanced overseas promotions in order to create apowerful visit-Japan promotion program through support from all of Japan and strive
to attract 30 million visitors to Japan; these efforts are based on the Nation Tourism
Promotion Basic Plan, which was formulated in FY2011. At the same time, thegovernment will attract and hold MICE, which generate business opportunities, andhold a large number of these through various efforts such as developing a moreadvanced marketing strategy and strengthening the competitiveness of the MICE
industry. [MLIT]<C: Measures that should be augmented for future implementation>
C-1:

The government will share best practices in translating administrative procedures,
including those concerning permits and licenses, so as to facilitate the activity offoreign businesses in Japan. Furthermore, the government will provide foreign
language training to employees in charge of procedures for granting permits andlicenses for foreign businesses. [all government offices participating in thisconference]

C-2:

The government will continue to promote measures designed to build vibrant andhigh-quality financial capital markets that are fair, transparent, and open to businesses,
both domestic and abroad. [FSA]

C-3:

Taking into consideration the results of studies conducted by the Growth Finance9Promotion Council, the government will steadily implement concrete measures toinvigorate financial capital markets through new fund flows, such as smoothing fundflows within Asia. [CAS (government offices concerned)]
C-4:

Starting in FY2012, the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional
Innovation will study concrete ways to promote investment of foreign capital inlimited partnerships for venture capital investment that contribute to the promotion ofdomestic venture businesses. [METI]4) The initiative to make the living environment at investment sites more comfortable<Aim>
This initiative is aimed at creating a better living environment with focus on education, healthcare and other fundamental services and enhancing the convenience for foreign nationals witha more efficient environment for accepting them.
<A: Measures already completed or underway>
A-19: The government has been working to internationalize the research environment andaccept talented researchers from other countries. Efforts have also been made to allow
foreign nationals residing in Japan to adapt smoothly to the living environment in thiscountry, including managing consultative meetings with the government of thecountries foreign pupils and students come from and encouraging them to enroll inschool as well as promoting Japanese language education. The government has also
been making efforts to improve the hospitality to foreigners through, for example, thepromotion of education for international understanding. [MEXT]
A-20: In March 2012, the government notified prefectures that they should implementcertain measures to flexibly handle the approval of miscellaneous schools taking into
consideration the results of studies conducted by Investigation Commission on
Approval and Other Matters for the Establishment of Miscellaneous Schools and theIncorporation of Quasi-Educational Institutions of Schools for Foreign Children, if themeasures are determined necessary to achieve various goals such as attracting highlyskilled foreign professionals. The measures include (1) making requirements to own
school land and buildings more flexible, (2) making requirements to hold assets undermanagement more flexible, and (3) setting standards for establishing international
schools. [MEXT]
A-21: The government has been working to develop an environment that will enable thoseforeigners to access to health care without anxiety who visit Japan on business or livein Japan as well as visit for international exchange in the health care sector. [MHLW]
A-22: The government has been working to develop the framework for better accepting
foreign patients at hospitals by, for example, training interpreters in the health caresector. [METI]
A-23: The government is examining the various problems that foreigners living in Japan faceby holding events such as the International Workshop on Acceptance of Foreign
10Nationals and Their Integration into Japan and took necessary responses. In March
2012, the government held the FY2011 International Workshop on Acceptance ofForeign Nationals and Their Integration into Japan, whose theme was Great East Japan
Earthquake and the Policy on Foreign Nationals. [MOFA]<B: Measures officially set for implementation>
B-19: The government will review progress in implementing the comprehensive measures
for supporting foreign residents by the Liaison Committee among Ministries andAgencies on the Problems Faced by Foreign Workers (the most recent review was
conducted in February 2012). If necessary, revisions will be made. [CAS (government
offices concerned)]
B-20: The government will implement measures that are in the Action Plan on Measures for
Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent, which was finalized in March 2011 by theCouncil for the Promotion of Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent. It
will also make modifications to the plan as necessary. The foreign-resident measuresportal site was updated, and various other measures were implemented including
providing phone-based consultations related to the Great East Japan Earthquake invarious languages. [CAO (government offices concerned)]
B-21: The government will increase convenience for foreign nationals by such means as
extending the maximum period of stay and introducing a special re-entry permit
system in accordance with the introduction of a new foreign residence management
system, (with the enforcement of the revised Immigration Control Law slated for July2012). [MOJ]
B-22: The government will promote the development of mechanisms that are based on
private sector creativity for providing support to students, young researchers, andcompany workers for living in Japan through cooperation with the business
community, universities, and similar entities. This will include creating or expanding
scholarships so that Japanese can study overseas and foreigners can study in Japan.
[MEXT, METI]<C: Measures that should be augmented for future implementation>
C-5:

The government will try to promote the internationalization of the research
environment in Japan and will consider creating an employment / labor environmentand social / living environment attractive to highly-skilled people in light of the
progress in the introduction of the points-based system. [MEXT, CAO (MOJ, MHLW,
METI)]

C-6:

With the goal of promoting the development of a life, work, and study environment inorder to create a society that foreigners can coexist in, the Commission to Realize aSociety that Foreigners Can Coexist In, which was established in May 2012, will
move forward with a comprehensive study of issues and promote related efforts. [CAS(government offices concerned)]115) The initiative to enrich the dissemination of information welcoming investment<Aim>
This initiative is aimed at clearly indicating Japan’s position as a country that welcomes direct
investment into the country, with the government demonstrating leadership in conducting
public relations showing the attractiveness of Japan as a place to locate a business. Other
objectives include eliminating reputational damages, creating a strong impression of safety
and security, and striving for an “Open Reconstruction” from the Great East Japan
Earthquake.
<A: Measures already completed or underway>
A-24: The government has been appealing the attractiveness of Japan through its diplomatic
missions overseas and JETRO’s overseas offices and supporting business matching
between foreign and domestic businesses. [MOFA, METI, JETRO]
A-25: The government has been providing information on the progress of Japan’sreconstruction at seminars in Japan and abroad as well as exhibitions overseas (at 21
cities in Japan and overseas in FY2011). [JETRO (government offices concerned)]
A-26: In March 2012, the government held a seminar on Special Zone for Reconstruction toforeign companies and diplomatic missions in Tokyo. [Reconstruction Agency, CAO,
MOFA, METI, JETRO]
A-27: Under the banner of “open reconstruction,” the government has strengthened JapanChina and Japan-Korea cooperation through various efforts such as accepting
reconstruction support missions from China and Korea in order to support
reconstruction and promote tourism. [MOFA]<B: Measures officially set for implementation>
B-23: The website of the Office of Foreign Direct Investment Promotion, Cabinet Office,will be updated in FY2011, mutual links will be attached to related websites such as
those of JETRO and related ministries, and integrated efforts will be made to inform
people of the attractiveness of locating in Japan. [CAO, JETRO (government offices
concerned)]
B-24: In order to further deepen the people’s understanding of overseas investment andM&As by communicating the importance of promoting investment in Japan, thegovernment will hold local symposiums at least once a year. In FY2012, the theme ofthese symposiums will be “open reconstruction.” [CAO (METI, JETRO)]
B-25: In order to realize “open reconstruction” following the Great East Japan Earthquake,the government will hold symposiums to inform people about developments such as
the reconstruction special zone system and actively communicate information about
recovery projects both within Japan and overseas. [Reconstruction Agency]
B-26: The government will make use of venues such as overseas business trips andinternational conferences, including the UNCTAD World Investment Forum
12

(Ministerial Round Table discussion) held in April 2012, and inform people about theProgram for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center and Direct Investment into
Japan in order to show Japan’s welcoming stance toward investment in Japan. The
government will also actively make use of its overseas embassies and JETRO overseas
offices and conducted routine PR activities. [MOFA, METI, JETRO]
B-27: In addition to dispatching missions to venues such as overseas trade shows andinforming overseas companies of what is being done, the government will invite, toJapan, foreign companies that are interested in investing in Japan and provide concrete
advice for investing. [METI, JETRO]
B-28: The government will make use of organizations such as overseas media and provide
correct news on the business environment in Japan after the earthquake and work to
attract companies to Japan. [METI, JETRO]
B-29: The government will promote the Cool Japan Strategy through efforts such as
attracting filming to content special zones, which will involve creating a one-stopcounter to handle film crews from abroad and other measures. This will attract people,
resources, and money from Asia and help revitalize local communities by making useof local resources and tourism resources. [METI]
B-30: The government will promote “open reconstruction” by communicating informationon the business environment in Japan after the earthquake to people in the U.S.,
Europe, Asia, and Japan, and attracting investment to local communities that weredamaged by the disaster. First of all, a symposium will be held in New York in July.
[JETRO (Reconstruction Agency, CAO, METI)]
B-31: In order to contribute to “open reconstruction,” in August in Tokyo, the government
will explain reconstruction special zones and hold symposiums to attract investment
by foreign companies in areas hit by the disaster. [CAO (Reconstruction Agency,
METI, JETRO)]
B-32: The government will invite organizations such as foreign companies to the Tohoku
region, provide information on local areas hit by the disaster, and promote investing
and locating operations in the Tohoku region. [METI]<C: Measures that should be augmented for future implementation>
C-7:

The government will make all-out efforts to offer information in English through thewebsites of government offices concerned and other media so as to facilitate theactivity of foreign businesses in Japan. To that end, government offices will share bestpractices for qualitative and quantitative improvement. [all the government offices
participating in this conference]

CAO = Cabinet Office CAS = Cabinet Secretariat FSA = Financial Services Agency
JETRO = Japan External Trade Organization MAFF = Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries METI = Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry MEXT = Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology MHLW = Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
MLIT = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport MOF = Ministry of Finance
MOFA = Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOJ = Ministry of Justice13