Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Iwate
Iwate – Land of Possibilities
- Your Regional Guide: Shiho Chida
Inquiry form
Iwate Industry Development Promotion Section
10-1 Uchimaru Morioka-city, Iwate Prefecture 020-8570
TEL: +81-19-629-5561 FAX: +81-19-629-5569
- Basic Information
- Regional Profile
- Services for investment in Japan
- Available incentives
- Living environment for foreigners
- Links to Related Websites
Basic Information
| Population | 1.36 million (Male: 0.65 million, Female: 0.71 million) (2007) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 0.715 million (2007) |
| Area | 15,279km² (2007) |
| GDP | 4,730.8 billion yen (2005) |
| Major industries | Electrical and electronics, food products, transportation machinery, general machinery, steel and iron |
| Developing industries | Automotive-related, semiconductor-related, embedded software and other IT-related, food product-related, research and development-type industry |
| Offices overseas | Seoul (Founded jointly by 3 northern Tohoku prefectures (Aomori, Akita, and Iwate) and Hokkaido)/Dalian (Founded jointly with Miyagi Prefecture) |
| Offices in Japan | Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo/Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture/Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture/Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture/Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| JETRO office | JETRO Morioka |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
The value of industrial shipments for Iwata was 2,474,700,000,000 yen in 2006 thanks in large part to the development of corporate expansion into Iwate by the high-tech and automotive-related industries as well as the promotion of local industry. An increasingly large percentage of this total figure is being taken up by transport equipment and electronic component and device manufacturing. Iwate is working to build one of Japan’s leading manufacturing industry clusters by increasing the number of resident automotive, semiconductor and other finished product manufacturers and small-to-medium sized companies that provide the basic technology which supports them. Iwate is also working to develop a comprehensive “food industry” that covers everything from the agricultural, forestry and fisheries industry to food manufacturing, restaurants and retail; towards this end the prefecture is focusing on those companies which promise to provide future growth while also cultivating related industries with latent potential.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
A network of educational and research facilities and industry support facilities to provide support for a variety of corporate activities.
Iwate offers a variety of educational and research facilities and industry support facilities to provide backing for such efforts as human resources cultivation, joint research, business creation and research and development support. In particular, besides the promotion of research and development through collaboration between industry, academia and government, Iwate is working to advance the level of industry as well as develop new industries through the practical application of research results.
<Main research institutions>
Iwate University (national), Iwate Prefectural University, Iwate Industrial Research Institute
Industry-government-academia collaboration
1. Iwate ‘glocal’ technology brings people and companies together.
Iwate adopts the three perspectives of “IT”, “industry, academia and governmental collaboration”, and “the ordinary citizen” in order to support corporate activities and promote the development of industry. In particular, the foundation of business creation requires the development of creative technologies, and in Iwate research and development tailored to the needs of corporations is being carried out by a unique collaborative network involving industry, academia and government.
<Major examples of research and development being carried out collaboratively by industry, academia and government>
(1) Development of surface treatment technology using triazine-dithiol compound (Iwate University, Toa Denka Co., Ltd., and others)
(2) Development of next-generation advanced cast iron (Iwate University, Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd., and others)
(3) Development of natural CG simulation software (Iwate University, JFP Co., Ltd., and others)
2. Industrial promotion through free and open collaboration between industry, academia and government
The driving force behind industrial promotion in Iwate thus far has been free and open collaboration between industry, academia and government. Iwate is working to further develop this collaboration between industry, academia and government to make it better meet the needs of ordinary citizens.
- Iwate Network System (INS): INS was begun in 1987 as a collaborative organization involving industry, academia and government which has grown to now include more than 1,000 members and 40 “materials process”, “multimedia” and other research societies. It plays a major role in the creation of an environment geared towards corporate technological development and new industry creation. INS is a symbol of the free and open collaboration between industry, academia and government that exists in Iwate.
- Joint research between industry and Iwate University: This joint research between Iwate University and various corporations, and which is carried out via the collaborative network which exists between industry, academia and government, has produced top-class results from a local national university.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
As the nerve center of northern Tohoku, Iwate is steadily developing a network of expressways. As the economy becomes increasingly globalized, companies require ever more efficient distribution. Iwate Prefecture offers a solid transportation infrastructure – be it land, sea or air – which supports speedy corporate activity. As the nerve center of northern Tohoku, Iwate is steadily building distribution routes that make it an ideal corporate location.
<Land>
Expressways which enhance Iwate’s distribution network
The Tohoku Jukan Expressway runs through the middle of the prefecture from north to south, allowing excellent access from northern Tohoku to the Kanto region. In addition, the Tōhoku Ōdan Expressway Kamaishi Akita Line, the Miyako-Morioka Cross Road and other roads allow improved access between the interior region (where corporate concentration continues to increase) and the coastal regions. All of this, including port usage, is part of Iwate’s continued effort to develop an effective distribution network.
<Air>
Iwate’s Hanamaki Airport – a crossroads of people, goods and information
In order to adapt to the age of full-scale internationalization by improving distribution and enhancing convenience for travelers, the runway has been extended (to 2,500m) and a new terminal is being built.
<Sea>
Ports which enhance Iwate’s distribution network
Iwate has four specially-designated ports: Kuji, Miyako, Kamaishi, and Ofunato. Of these, Kamaishi Port began expansion work in 1991 in order to enable it to handle a larger cargo volume; this expansion work was completed in March 2007. As a result of this expansion, the port went from a -11m pier with one berth to a -7.5m pier with two berths; facility capacity was greatly increased; and the size of vessels which it can accommodate increased to 18,000D/W.
<Railway>
High-speed access with the Tohoku shinkansen (bullet train) (service between Morioka and Hachinohe)
In December 2002, service was started between Morioka and Hachinohe on the Tohoku shinkansen (bullet train); in 2010 the train line is scheduled to run from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori.
The shinkansen has shortened travel time to Tokyo to approximately three hours, and the creation of even faster access to Iwate is being promoted.
Foreign company(s) operating in the industry
In order to encourage as many outstanding foreign firms as possible to expand into Iwate, the prefecture works together with the Tohoku Industrial Development Promotion Conference, the Japan External Trade Organization and other related organizations. Currently, five foreign firms have expanded into Iwate: Amkor Iwate Co., Ltd., Iwate 3M Limited, Bauer Compressors Co., Ltd., Vac's Precision K.K., and Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Providing market information | ||
| Advice on market participation | No | Requests from companies for data, documentation, etc., will be handled promptly. |
| Arranging appointments with potential customers and partners | No | Help will be given in producing reports from statistical data held by Iwate Prefecture. |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Companies will be introduced to partner firms, subcontractors and technological support institutions (Iwate Industrial Research Institute) as well as collaborative research institutions and institutions which accept research orders (Iwate University, Iwate Regional Cooperative Research Center). |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Corporate requests will be handled promptly. |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | A number of incubation facilities are available, including the Iwate Regional Cooperative Research Center, Morioka City Collaborative Research Center, Hanamaki City-Incubation Support Center, and the Kitakami Office Plaza Corporation. |
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | No | Sites optimally suited to corporate expansion plans will be suggested and a full system of preferential treatment will be extended. |
| Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan | No | Information about licensing, etc., at the time of expansion into Iwate will provided through “one-stop service” offered by the prefectural government office and its branch offices. |
| Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services) | No | Corporate requests will be handled promptly. |
| Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel | No | Sites optimally suited to corporate expansion plans will be suggested |
| Providing information on permits and licensing procedures | No | Information about licensing, etc., at the time of expansion into Iwate will provided through “one-stop service” offered by the prefectural government office and its branch offices. |
| Providing information on subsidy programs | No | A full system of preferential treatment will be extended. |
Support service
Foreign firms, etc., considering investing in Iwate will provided with “one-stop service” offered by the prefectural government office and its branch offices.
Available incentives
Iwate Prefecture endeavors to provide “one-stop service” and to make follow-up its top priority in order to ensure that companies can move into the prefecture quickly and without difficulty and that they can develop their business in the best possible environment following their establishment in the prefecture. Iwate does not merely offer factory sites, it promises to work as a business partner, striving to make sure companies are fully satisfied.
- Iwate has established regulations regarding industrial vitalization for designated regions which provides for tax exemptions and reductions and subsidies without a maximum limit.
Living environment for foreigners
| Living environment | Iwate Prefecture is the largest prefecture next to Hokkaido, and it offers a wealth of sightseeing spots, including inspiring, magnificent coastlines, four beautiful seasons, majestic mountains, and relaxing hot springs. Iwate also offers cultural and living facilities to support residents, roads, parks, water and sewage systems, and provides an environment where work and private life can be more productive and enjoyable. In addition, Iwate offers the most hospitals in Japan and maintains a full range of healthcare and welfare services tied to the local community. All together, these features create a rich, secure living and working environment. |
|---|---|
| International schools | Iwate does not have international schools, so children will attend the same schools as Japanese children. The staff of the municipal boards of education can be contacted to discuss and concerns people may have about receiving education in Japanese. |
| Health services catering to foreigners | The Iwate Medical Information Network has a website for finding hospitals that offer services in foreign languages.
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Links to Related Websites
