# Strengthening Strategic International Expansion and Contributions

Section 1

## Promoting the Export of Infrastructure Systems

## 1 General Direction of Government Policy

The government established the “Infrastructure Strategy Economic Cooperation Meeting” in March 2013 and compiled the “Infrastructure System Export Strategy” based on deliberations carried out by relevant ministers, including the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, regarding government policies in May of the same year. A revised version of this strategy was formulated in June 2015 with the aim of helping Japanese companies secure orders for infrastructure systems totaling approximately JPY 30 trillion in 2020 (approximately JPY 10 trillion in 2010). The active implementation of the 2015 revision of the “Japan Revitalization Strategy” was also approved by Cabinet in the same month.

In May 2015, a high-quality infrastructure partnership incorporating the provision of approximately 110 billion dollars of high-quality infrastructure investments in the Asian region over the next five years was announced by Prime Minister Abe. Through this partnership, the government aims to further mobilize private-sector funds and expertise to realize infrastructure investments that are sufficient in terms of both quality and quantity. In November of the same year, the Prime Minister announced that systemic improvements to yen loans and overseas investments and loans would be carried out, such that promotion of the further expansion of high-quality infrastructure would be a matter of policy.

## I nitiatives of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

In accordance with the same strategy and by making the most of the aforementioned systemic improvements, MLIT will powerfully advance the overseas expansion of infrastructure systems in the land, infrastructure, transport and tourism sectors. In order to successfully overcome competition from foreign countries and win bids for Japanese companies, we must rely on Japan’s strengths, such as by building safe and reliable systems that combine structural and non-structural aspects, while addressing the needs of recipient countries with flexibility. Therefore, we are planning to promote three pillars of the applicable measures as follows: a. “upstream” planning and information sharing, b. mitigation of business risks, and c. Overseas development of soft infrastructure.

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

In order to promote participation from the concept stage of each project (upstream), Japan will appeal to its technology to foreign countries, especially how it provides safety, reliability, and superior cost-effectiveness on a comprehensive basis, including with respect to the operations stage. Japan will share these information by utilizing trade promotion activities carried out through joint efforts by leaders in the public and private sectors, organizing city tours and company tours for foreign ambassadors stationed in Tokyo, and taking advantage of opportunities at international conferences.

### b. Mitigating business risks

We established the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development(JOIN) in October 2014 to reduce business risks—such as the huge amount of initial investments, long-term maintenance requirements, and demand risks—incurred by companies expanding into downstream (management and operations) functions in the field of transportation and urban infrastructure. In addition to opening the Overseas Construction Hot Line consultation service in order to help solve problems encountered by companies that are expanding businesses abroad, we are seeking to provide multifaceted support to Japanese companies involved in the overseas development of infrastructure systems by dispatching small and medium-sized companies, sharing updated information through databases on overseas