## 3 Initiatives of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to strongly promote the overseas expansion of infrastructure systems in the land, infrastructure, transport and tourism sectors based on the above strategy. In order to successfully overcome competition from foreign countries and win bids for Japanese companies, we must play to Japan's strengths, such as building safe and reliable systems that combine structural and non-structural aspects, while addressing the needs of the recipient country with flexibility. Therefore, we are planning to promote three pillars of the measures as follows: a. "Upstream" planning and information sharing, b. Support companies engaged in overseas development of infrastructure systems, c. Overseas development of soft infrastructure.

### a. 'Upstream' Planning and Information Sharing

Japan will take advantage of opportunities for information sharing in the joint public-private sector’s top sales and international conferences to promote participation in the concept stage of the project (“Upstream”) with the cost-effectiveness, safety and reliability provided by Japanese technology.

### b. Support Companies Engaged in Overseas Development of Infrastructure Systems

We established the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN) to reduce business risks incurred—such as the huge amount of initial investment, long-term maintenance, and demand risk—for companies expanding into downstream (management and operation) in transportation and urban infrastructure fields. In addition to opening the “Overseas Construction Hot Line” consultation office in order to help solve problems encountered by companies that are expanding businesses abroad, efforts are underway to provide multifaceted support to Japanese companies involved in overseas infrastructure systems, such as improving the overseas construction and real estate market database, collecting pertinent information through diplomatic missions, and introducing overseas construction and real estate market information from private human resources (known as “private attaché”), like seasoned Japanese general contractors who are experts concerning local conditions.

### c. Overseas Development of Soft Infrastructure

Various efforts are underway to create an environment ideal for Japanese companies to participate in projects, including international standardization of Japanese technologies and systems and/or become the “de facto standard” of partner countries, support for institutional development of partner countries to improve the business environment for Japanese companies, and support for training engineers and skilled workers that contribute to sustaining administration and maintenance of infrastructure in partner countries.

## (1) Promotion of Top Sales

In FY2014, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism visited countries like Mongolia, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, Vietnam for discussions and exchange of opinions with the heads of state as well as ministers of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism to conduct top sales for Japanese infrastructure systems. In addition, the Vice Minister and Secretary visited a total of 12 countries including stops in Africa and Latin America to promote Japan’s infrastructure systems to meet the infrastructure needs of those countries. Additionally, opportunities such as the visits of foreign ministers and dignitaries to Japan, hosted seminars, and invitation of dignitaries were actively used to spread the superiority of Japanese infrastructure systems.