Japan Picks 61 Goods, Techs for Priority Investment

Tokyo, March 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday designated a total of 61 goods and technologies for priority investment by the public and private sectors, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s efforts to realize a strong economy. The designations were approved at a meeting of the Japan Growth Strategy Council, chaired by Takaichi. “We will find possible pathways for Japan to win,” Takaichi said at the meeting, instructing her ministers to hammer out specific aid measures and investment amounts. The 61 goods and technologies were selected from 17 areas, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The government presented a draft investment roadmap for 27 of the designated goods and technologies, including AI robots, semiconductors, small drones, land-based aquaculture, gaming and next-generation ships. The draft roadmap calls for boosting sales of Japanese-made semiconductors to 40 trillion yen in 2040, in addition to the existing target of 15 trillion yen in 2030, and raising the country’s share in the global AI robot market to over 30 pct to compete with the United States and China. It also includes a plan to secure the capacity to supply 80,000 small drones by 2030 for use in the defense sector. Takaichi has vowed to accelerate “crisis management investment” to bolster Japan’s economic security. The government plans to finalize the investment roadmap, including specific investment amounts, and draw up a new growth strategy this summer. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]