Japan to Form Industrial Clusters to Promote Investment

Tokyo, July 31 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday unveiled a plan to form industrial clusters to attract large-scale corporate investment to rural regions. Clusters will be formed in seven regions for 13 projects to promote investment in growth areas, including semiconductors and offshore wind power generation. Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture, was included in the plan as a hub for semiconductors, offshore wind power generation and rockets. The Tohoku northeastern region is expected to be a center for chipmaking and offshore wind power generation. An area around Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, was set as an aviation industry hub. The Kinki bloc of western Japan is expected to be a hub for rockets, flying cars, biotechnology and cutting-edge medicine. The Setouchi area around the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan will be committed to next-generation ships. Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, will be for semiconductors. The Kyushu southwestern region will be an industrial area for chips and offshore wind power generation. In addition to the plans by the central government, there are six regional industry cluster projects led by prefectures and four local industry growth plans mainly handled by municipalities. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]