Japan to Certify Essential Service Providers

Tokyo, Dec. 16 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industry ministry plans to establish a system under which municipalities certify businesses in depopulated areas that provide essential services vital to daily life, such as medical and nursing care, and retail, it was learned Tuesday. With the system, which is expected to cover nonprofit organizations, such as consumer and workers’ cooperatives as well, the ministry aims to help certified providers receive financial support more easily. The ministry is set to submit a bill to revise the law on strengthening the country’s industrial competitiveness to next year’s ordinary parliamentary session to launch the certification system. Many supermarkets and other stores have withdrawn from areas facing continued population declines. The ministry will try to improve the social recognition of essential service providers, while supporting cooperatives and other nonprofit organizations to become new providers of such services. Under the planned system, local governments will certify businesses operating within their areas that provide medical and nursing care, retail, logistics and transportation services. Certified businesses will gain access to low-interest loans from Japan Finance Corp. and debt guarantee programs offered by the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation. The ministry will also expand support for establishing and operating cooperatives. Requirements such as the number of people required to establish a cooperative engaged in operations related to essential services will be eased. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]