## Between the central governments and local entities

It is important that community development is led by local communities, businesses and municipalities with their ingenuity and on their own initiative. In other words, their ownership is the key. The central government supports their initiatives in light of their implications for other areas, Japan as a whole, or even other countries.

The central government provides major support if community development initiatives are in line with its policies. When it works with local governments and others, the central government is required to put their innovative initiatives to good use.

Community development and business activities are greatly affected by national rules and regulations on such aspects as safety, the environment and convenience, as well as those on the development of key transport networks—including expressways, Shinkansen lines, airports and key ports—on the national or even international levels. The future of flows of people and goods among metropolitan areas, other countries, and areas and regions of the country, as well as the future of markets in Japan and abroad, holds a key to the success of local communities, municipalities and businesses. For these reasons, the central government is required to play an important role in two major tasks. One is to ensure a level playing field for local communities, businesses and municipalities to compete in creativity, ingenuity and wisdom. The other is to develop physical and social infrastructure conducive to business even from an international point of view, including a safe and high-quality environment for living.

The central government encourages cooperation and partnership among municipalities and other entities. Such cooperation and partnership may be bolstered by appropriate role-sharing at the regional or even national level.

Efforts to build cooperation and partnership at the international level should be led by the central government, which should also play a leading role in creating internationally competitive environments and making necessary arrangements regarding international standards.

At any rate, the central government is committed to working with local entities to create a social environment conducive to initiatives aimed at developing vibrant communities or businesses.

### Section 2. Building partnership with municipalities, local communities, businesses and NPOs

## [Partnership with local communities, businesses and NPOs]

MLIT believes that community development should be based on partnership between the public sector and the community, private and NPO sectors. Based on this belief, the ministry encourages these three sectors to participate in—and provide input to—the processes of developing and implementing all kinds of policies regarding community development.

Open café on the pavement

A meeting of “public transport advisors”

MLIT is committed to reflecting the views and comments of the private sector and the people in the processes of policy formulation and market monitoring to promote innovation and fair competition by the private sector. In fields that cannot be fully addressed by the market, MLIT establishes appropriate rules and regulations, provides necessary support, and solves problems in partnership with other stakeholders concerned.