Investing in Japan

Regional Information

Gunma

A safe, secure business location 1 hour from central Tokyo, with a fully developed high-speed transportation network and abundant, high-quality water resources

Your Regional Guide

Gunma Pref. Concierge

Inquiry form

Industrial Development Promotion Office, Industrial Policy Division, Department of Industry and Economy
1-1-1 Otemachi, Maebashi-city, Gunma Prefecture 371-8570
TEL: +81-27-226-3326 FAX: +81-27-223-5470

Basic Information
Regional Profile
Services for investment in Japan
Available incentives
Living environment for foreigners
Links to Related Websites

Basic Information

Population	2.01 million (Male: 0.99 million, Female: 1.02 million) (2008)
Labor force	1.32 million (Male: 0.67 million, Female: 0.65 million) (2005)
Area	6,363km² (2006）
GDP	7,764 billion yen (2005)
Major industries	Transport equipment, general machinery, electrical devices, food products, metal products
Developing industries	Analog-related industries sector (electrical devices, automobiles, robots, medical devices, etc.), health science sector, basic technology sector
Offices in Japan	Chuo-ku, Tokyo/Osaka City/Nagoya City
JETRO office	JETRO Headquarters, Tokyo Ark Mori Bldg. 6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo Prefecture 107-6006 TEL: +81-3-3582-5312 FAX: +81-3-3505-1990 E-mail: jab@jetro.go.jp

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

With a tradition of manufacturing industries, represented by silk and textiles beginning with the construction of Japan’s first government-operated factory, the Tomioka Silk Mill, the ambitious people of Gunma Prefecture have acquired a reservoir of technical skills. The prefecture, especially the central and eastern parts, now boasts a major concentration of industries: automobile manufacturers, led by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., known for its Subaru brand, and electrical equipment manufacturers such as Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and Sanden Corporation. With the value of industrial goods shipped about 7.7 trillion yen (14th in Japan), Gunma Prefecture is one of the most industrialized prefectures in Japan. Furthermore, the cluster of small- and medium-sized businesses that support the automobile and electrical manufacturers offer fine industrial manufacturing with efficient, high-quality, quick turnaround, responding to the demands of local companies for high-quality manufacturing.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

Anarogu college <Main science and engineering universities>
Gunma University Faculty of Engineering, Gunma University Department of Production Science and Technology, Maebashi Institute of Technology Faculty of Engineering, Gunma National College of Technology

<Gunma Industrial Technology Center>
The Gunma Industrial Technology Center is a core institution for research and development leading to practical and commercial applications of technology and for technical supports in relation to manufacturing.
In accordance with its main policy of “the customer comes first,” the center supports companies’ R&D projects, implements joint research projects by industry, academic, and government consortia, and aims to improve the technological resources of the prefecture as a whole.

<The Innovation Center for Cooperative Research of Gunma University>
This Center sponsors joint research with private companies and technical education and training for technicians.
Gunma Industrial Development Center

Industry-government-academia collaboration

The basic plan drafted according to the Company Site Promotion Law was created to cover 3 industrial sectors, the analog, health science and basic technology industries, and 30 municipalities within the prefecture. Furthermore, in order to take advantage of the potential within the concentrations of industries, such as transport equipment manufacturing in Tochigi and Gunma prefectures, the creation of a network with institutions supporting the industry will be promoted. This network can be utilized to determine company needs and to provide comprehensive and effective investment of related policies for ambitious and technologically sophisticated companies. In doing so, a world-class concentration of companies is expected.
(Regional Industry Revitalization Project, National Capital Region, Northern Region)

Strength of the region's infrastructure

Gunma Prefecture is an inland prefecture located nearly in the center of the Japanese archipelago. Its western and northern boundaries are formed by mountain ranges, while the Kanto Plain extends to the south and east. It is remarkably close to Tokyo, only about 1 hour by car on the Kan-etsu Expressway or via the Shinkansen (Joetsu, Nagano). By March 2012, the entire length of the Kita Kanto Expressway is scheduled to open, connecting the prefecture to the Port of Hitachinaka in Ibaraki Prefecture, and by March 2013, the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway is to be linked with the Higashi Kanto Expressway, providing a direct connection to Narita International Airport. This will also link the Kan-etsu and Tohoku Expressways, which run north and south, and the Joshin-etsu Expressway, which extends to the west, completing a crossroads of expressways in the prefecture. Among the prefecture’s other advantages are its strong and stable ground conditions, which make earthquake damages rare, and its inland location, which minimizes damage from typhoons. In these ways the prefecture offers superb conditions for an industrial site.

<Land>

By March 2012, the entire length of the Kita Kanto Expressway is scheduled to be opened to the Port of Hitachinaka, and by March 2013, the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway is to link up with the Higashi Kanto Expressway, which will also join the Kan-etsu and Tohoku Expressways that run north-south, and the Joshin-etsu Expressway, which runs to the west. This will complete a crossroads of expressways in Gunma, improving transportation from the prefecture to every part of Japan. Furthermore, in order to improve the effectiveness of this network of expressways and provide better access among local areas, the prefecture is also improving local trunk highways.

<Air>

When the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway joins the Higashi Kanto Expressway in March 2013, it will reduce the travel time between Takasaki and Narita International Airport to 75 minutes, a remarkable improvement in access. Furthermore, the aspect of air travel will greatly improve with the completion of the Kita Kanto Expressway providing better access to Ibaraki Airport.

<Sea>

With the Kita Kanto Expressway running all the way to the Port of Hitachinaka by March 2012, it will be possible to reach the port in 90 minutes. Furthermore, the inland customs facility Oota International Cargo Terminal opened in 2000, along the route of the Kita Kanto Expressway. These facilities can serve as the marine and air ports of entry to our inland prefecture and contribute greatly to shortening lead times.

<Railway>

It takes 60 minutes to travel to Tokyo on the Joetsu or Nagano Shinkansen, 80 minutes to travel to Niigata, and 55 minutes to travel to Nagano. It is also possible to ship freight from freight rail terminals.

Foreign company(s) operating in the industry

Gunma has 13 foreign-owned manufacturing companies and 15 foreign-owned manufacturing plants (excluding those acquired by mergers and acquisitions). Well-sited for domestic and international distribution utilizing its expressway network, with an ever-increasing concentration of automotive and electrical industries, and possibilities for tie-ins with technologically sophisticated small- and medium-sized businesses, it is a popular secondary site for foreign businesses in Japan.

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services	Fees charged?	Content of services
Support for establishing a base
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel	No	Provided by employees of the Business Attraction Section
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures	No	Provided by employees of the Business Attraction Section
Providing information on subsidy programs	No	Provided by employees of the Business Attraction Section

Database of candidate partners

Companies in Gunma Prefecture that have technological strengths are listed on the website in Japanese kana order. There is a link to the website of each company. This list is useful for finding subcontract processing companies and for expanding marketing channels.

Available incentives

A long-term, low-interest, large-scale financing system is offered to companies that move into the prefecture, providing long term, low interest funds that may be used to acquire land or building facilities.
In order to lighten the burden of initial investments when setting up plants and other facilities in the prefecture, a system of business attraction subsidies is also available that set off an amount comparable to real estate acquisition taxes levied on land and buildings.

Gunma Industrial Location Guide

Living environment for foreigners

Living environment	Gunma is a safe and secure area endowed with natural beauty Oze National Park is one of many beautiful natural areas in Gunma Prefecture. Some of the abundant pure water that flows out of the mountains surrounding the prefecture flows into the Tone River, which brings so much bounty to the Kanto Plain. The prefecture contains many hot spring resorts, including some that are famous throughout Japan. Compared to nearby prefectures, Gunma experiences noticeably fewer earthquakes measuring 3 or above on the Japanese intensity scale. Gunma Prefecture has a well-developed system of expressways, providing a superior environment for operating a business. It is also blessed with mountains, hot spring resorts, and other natural wonders. The abundance of pure water in the prefecture allows farmers to raise fresh vegetables, and as an agricultural prefecture, Gunma does all it can to ensure food safety and security. All these factors combine to provide a superior living environment for employees.
International schools	The city of Oota has a special school district for the education of foreign children, an intensive school system in which foreign students are gathered by school blocks. Bilingual teachers who understand both Japanese and Portuguese are assigned to the school, and there are also Brazilian schools.
Health services catering to foreigners	With the cooperation of the Medical Association in the prefecture, a multilingual handbook for medical institutes has been published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tagalog. These booklets have been produced in an effort to facilitate multicultural coexistence and to solve the complex issues that are associated with an increasing number of foreign residents seeking medical care.
Other	The number of foreigners registered as residents of the town of Oizumi, adjacent to the city of Oota, is 15.5%, which means that this municipality has the highest percentage of foreign residents of any local government in Japan. Directional signs in Portuguese have been set up in the shopping area, and a sort of “Brazil Town” is being formed.