Details of Inviting Proposals Pertaining to National Strategic Special Zones
Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization, Cabinet Office
1. Purport
Based on Article 5, paragraph 7 of the National Strategic Special Zone Act (Act No.
107 of 2013) and the sixth basic policy of the National Strategic Special Zone (CabinetDecision, February 25, 2014), we will invite proposals related to new measures to betaken by the government for enhancing the international competitiveness of theindustries in National Strategic Special Zone and promoting the formation of bases forinternational economic activities (including those contributing to regional revitalization).
We will accept proposals for regulatory reforms not only limited to the special zones but
also across Japan.
Furthermore, the result of this collection of proposals will be used as a reference for
the Japan Revitalization Strategy (revised on 30 June 2015) shown below and thesecond installment of the Regional Vitalization Special Zones (the third round ofdesignations of National Strategic Special Zones) to be carried out before the end of theyear based on the Prime Minister’s remarks at the Council on Special Zones and items
pointed out by expert members of the Diet. We would be grateful for active poposals
from local governments which would like to utilize the regulatory reforms added by therevised Special Zone Act which came into force on 1 September and regulatory reforms
stated in the above-mentioned Japan Revitalization Strategy.
Additionally, the proposals may be regarded and processed as proposals for the 28th
Structural Reform Special Zones related to Article 3, paragraph 4 of the Structural Reform
Special Zone Act (Act No. 189 of 2002) and the basic policy 2. (2) of the Structural Reform
Special Zone (Cabinet Decision, January 24, 2003) based on the regulation stated in theArticle 38, paragraph 1 of the above Act.

<Reference> Japan Revitalization Strategy (revised on 30 June 2015) (Extract)
II. Key Measures in the Revised Strategy
5. Further Strengthening Locational Competitiveness
5-1. Realizing National Strategic Special Zones / [Omission](3) Specific new measures to be takena) Speedy embodiment or implementation of projects, addition of designatedzones, etc.
[Omission]
In order to further revitalize the economy across our country by promoting
activities of the local governments which are enthusiastic about regional
revitalization through regulatory reforms and by encouraging competition
between designated special zones, [omission] the designation of the second
installment of the Regional Vitalization Special Zones (the third round ofdesignations of National Strategic Special Zones) will be realized as soon as
possible by the end of this year.

The Prime Minister’s Statement at the 13th meeting of the Council on National
Strategic Special Zones (19 March 2015) (Extract)“Furthermore, we will solicit bold regulatory reform proposals, including verification ofnear future technologies, and launch the second installment of Regional Vitalization
Special Zones as quickly as possible before the end of the year.”

The Prime Minister’s Statement at the 15th meeting of the Council on National
Strategic Special Zones (9 September 2015) (Extract)“Regulatory reform contributes to regional vitalization. I hope to complete the thirdround of designations of National Strategic Special Zones within this year. I sincerely
look forward to the emergence of local governments filled with passion for reform thatare similar to Yabu City and Semboku City, which achieved designation after
proposing inimitable, truly unique reforms.”

Materials submitted by expert members of the Diet for the 15th meeting of theCouncil on National Strategic Special Zones (9 September 2015) (Extract)- Zones for the third designation should be selected without delay. In the process,we will be selecting the local governments who actively want to utilize theadditional items incorporated in the revised law and the growth strategy revised inJune as well as the reforms of the so-called “rock-solid” regulations which are to
be reviewed continuously.
- In order to execute this securely, one idea is to ask the local governments to be
designated to resubmit their proposals.

2. Proposers
From the viewpoint of gathering wisdom from a wide variety of fields, we will invite
proposals from private business operators and local governments who will be carryingout the projects. We will accept not only independent proposals but also joint proposals
made by several organizations as well as those from overseas.
3. Period of Invitation
We will invite proposals from Tuesday, 6 October until 17:00 on Friday, 30 October, 2015.
Proposals will be appropriately screened upon receipt before being considered for hearingsby the Working Group (WG) of the National Strategic Special Zones.
4. Outline of Requirements for Acceptable Proposals
We will accept proposals which meet all of the following requirements.
1. Proposals on specific projects which contribute to the enhancement of theinternational competitiveness of the industries or the promotion of the formation ofbases for international economic activities (including those contributing to regionalrevitalization).
2. Specific proposals with regards to regulatory/system reforms required to enable theexecution of the projects suggested in the above (1) when it is impossible or difficult
under the current regulations/systems. (We do not accept proposals which simply
request support for funding including taxation systems.)*Please note that proposals made this time will not be necessarily connected directly tothe designation of the new National Strategic Special Zone.
5. Proposal Entry Method
Please follow the entry method shown in the format attached.
6. Points to Consider in Filling out the Format
Please take note of the following points in completing the proposal format.
1. For the column “Location of Project” in (4) of the format, please put the name of theprefecture or the city to identify the location when the proposal requests regulatory
reforms in a certain region. When the proposal relates to regulatory reforms acrossJapan or does not specify a region, there is no need to fill out this part.
2. For columns (7), (8) and (9) of the format, please put the description for eachregulation from the viewpoint of the following 3 and 4.
3. For column (7) “Content of regulations which make it impossible or difficult to carryout the project mentioned in (5)” in the format, please describe specifically how thecurrent regulations obstruct the execution of the project mentioned in (5) after
identifying in (8) the grounds of laws and ordinances of the applicable regulations
as much as possible.
4. For column (9) “Content of new measures proposed for reforms of theregulations/systems mentioned in (7) and (8)” in the format, please describe not only
the abolition of the regulations mentioned in (8) but also specific changes to bemade in the content of the regulations or proposals of new regulations/systems as
specific as possible.
5. When you would like your proposals to be considered and processed only for theNational Strategic Special Zone, please state so in column (12) “Special Notes” inthe format.
7. Submission Method of Proposals
Please submit your proposal by one of the following methods.
1. Via e-mailPlease send all the files including the proposal and other materials attached to the email.
<Notes>(1) Please put “Proposal Submission and the name of the proposer” as the subject ofthe e-mail. (e.g. Proposal Submission XX Company)
In the case of a joint proposal made by several organizations, please put the nameof the person or the organization shown as the contact on the format as the “Nameof Proposer.”(2) For the electronic file name of the proposal, please put “the name of the proposer
and the name of the proposal.” (e.g. XX Company XX Project)
Please follow the above (1) for the “Name of Proposer.”(3) With regards to reference materials, please send us the electronic files together withthe proposal. The recipient’s email address is shown in 8. Contact .
We will not notify you of the arrival of your proposal but we would be grateful if youcould contact the Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization (Tel: 03-5510-2463/ 2466) for confirmation.

2. Delivery by post or by hand
Please submit two copies of your proposal and the whole electronic media. In thecase of delivery through posting, please put “Proposal enclosed” in red on theenvelope. The recipient’s address is shown in 8. Contact .
8. Contact
Cabinet Office
Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization
In charge of Proposals for the National Strategic Special Zone
<Address> Nagata-cho Godo Chosha 6F
1-11-39 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan<Tel> 03-5510-2463 / 2466
<Email> i.kokkatoc at-sign cao.go.jp*The above address does not show the at-sign for security reasons.
9. Points to Consider in Submitting the Proposal
1. Submissions just before the closing date may cause a delay in checking thecontent of the proposals. We would appreciate your early submission.
2. Please note that we will not return the materials and documents you submit.
10. Handling of Proposals
1. The proposals received will be screened by the Working Group (WG) of theNational Strategic Special Zones and hearings will be conducted by the WG
members as necessary for those selected. We will later contact the proposers who
have been selected for hearing sessions.
After that, discussions will be held between WG members and relevant ministries
and agencies through hearings. The response policy to the proposal will finally bedecided through study and deliberation by the Council on National Strategic SpecialZones.
2. Proposals to be handled as those related to Structural Reform Special Zone inaccordance with Article 38, paragraph 1 of the National Strategic Special Zone
Act will be subject to discussions between the Office for the Promotion of Regional
Revitalization and relevant ministries and agencies. Proposals for which certain
conclusions are made will receive response policies to be decided by the Office for
the Promotion of Structural Reform Special Zones.
In the process of discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, we will provide
opportunities for proposers to respond with opinions to the answers from those
relevant ministries and agencies.
11. Reference
For National Strategic Special Zones and Structural Reform Special Zones, please see
the website below.
http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/tiiki/