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Investing in Japan

Regional Information

Niigata

Leading the way as an international distribution hub in the age of Northeast Asia thanks to a superior air, sea and land transportation infrastructure

Your Regional Guide: Takashi Sato

Niigata Pref. Concierge

Inquiry form

Industrial Labor Sightseeing DepartmentTo other site
4-1 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-city, Niigata Preｆecture 950-8570
TEL: +81-25-280-5248   FAX: +81-25-280-5508

Niigata

Basic Information

Population 2.43 million (Male: 1.18 million, Female: 1.25 million) (2005)
Labor force 1.29 million (Male: 0.74 million, Female: 0.55 million) (2005)
Area 12,583km² (2006)
GDP 9,373 billion yen (2006)
Major industries General machinery, food products, electronic components and devices, metallic products, chemicals (listed in the order of shipment value)
Developing industries
Offices overseas

Dalian, China (March　1997)/Seoul, Korea (October 1990)
Offices in Japan Tokyo/Osaka
JETRO office

JETRO Niigata
Ebara Niigata Bldg. 5F, 16-4 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-city, Niigata Prefecture 950-0965
TEL: +81-25-284-6991 FAX: +81-25-284-7910
E-mail: nig@jetro.go.jp

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

A metallic product fabrication industry cluster is found in the Sanjo and Tsubame regions; an electronics and mechanical manufacturing cluster is found in the Nagaoka and Ojiya regions; and a general machinery manufacturing cluster is found in the technologically advanced Kashiwazaki region. Per capita income is 2.772 million yen (for 2005), and the industrial composition distribution is 2.3% primary industry, 28.5% secondary industry, and 69.2% tertiary industry (for 2005).
Manufactured product shipment value for major manufacturing industries: 14.3% for general machinery, 12.2% for food products, 11.4% for electronic components and devices, 10.1% for metallic products, and 9.0% for chemical products (for 2006). The weight of the food product and metallic product industries is far higher in Niigata than in other prefectures. The food products industry is spread throughout the prefecture and takes advantage of the prefecture’s abundance of agricultural and marine products, such as rice. In particular, Niigata is home to some of Japan’s largest manufacturers of rice biscuits, sake, fish products, among others. The metallic products industries are concentrated in and around the Tsubame and Sanjo regions. It is one of the largest concentrations of metallic tableware, houseware and tools in the country.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

Universities: 17; Junior Colleges: 7

<Three technical universities>
Niigata University (Faculty of Engineering), Nagaoka University of Technology and Niigata Institute of Technology are involved in human resources cultivation and work together with companies in performing research and development. The Nagaoka Institute of Design and the Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences are producing results in the areas of industrial design and biotechnology research.
Technologies, Patents and Products developed at the Industrial Research Institute of Niigata Prefecture
Production of ultrafine, spherical metallic powder through the use of ultrafast cutting; magnesium alloy plastic forming process and apparatus; production method for magnesium alloy sheets; magnesium alloy continuous press production; plastic forming process for magnesium alloy sheets (sequential overhang formation and elastic body).

Industry-government-academia collaboration

Support institutions, such as the Industrial Research Institute of Niigata Prefecture, JST Innovation Satellite Niigata, and Niigata Industrial Creation Organization, assist with corporate research and development, industry and academic collaboration, and administrative innovation.
Promotion Project for Industry, Academia, and Government Cooperation in Urban Area (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
<Cutting-edge material advanced functionalization, and green manufacturing process technology creation > general and developing (2004～2006)
<Magnesium alloy next-generation product development > (2007～2009)

Strength of the region's infrastructure

Thanks to Niigata Prefecture’s developed infrastructure of roads, ports, airports, etc., it is a key part of both the domestic and international distribution network.
Niigata Airport: 7 international routes
Niigata Port: Carefully maintained as the only “Core International Port” along the Sea of Japan. In addition to allowing direct access to China’s booming market, Korea, and Southeast Asia, it is connected to destinations throughout the world through seven weekly transshipment routes going through Pusan.
Port of Naoetsu: Connected to China and Korea through regular container routes (Pusan, Ulsan, Gwangyang, Tianjin, and Dalian).

<Land>

Niigata offers a fully developed transportation infrastructure featuring three expressways: the Kanestu, Hokuriku, and Nihonkai-Tohoku. Also, all of the industrial parks in Niigata are located near an interchange for one of these expressways, allowing for easy access to the major consumer markets within Japan.

<Air>

Niigata Airport: 7 international routes (Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Seoul, Shanghai, Harbin, and Guam)

<Sea>

Niigata Port: Pusan, Dalian, Tsingtao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Keelung, Gaoxiong, Ulsan, Gwangyang, and Tianjin
Port of Naoetsu: Pusan, Ulsan, Gwangyang, Tianjin, and Dalian

<Railway>

Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train)

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services Fees charged? Content of services
Support for establishing a base
Providing information on subsidy programs No

<Support Service for Investment in Japan>
In addition to applying the same subsidy system for domestic companies to foreign companies establishing themselves in Niigata, rent assistance is also available for the office space of foreign companies, etc.
Support service

<Seoul Offices>
In order to further deepen relations between Niigata and Korea, the Niigata Trade Promotion Association opened up an overseas office in Seoul in October 1990. It is involved in a wide range of areas, such as support for economic and tourism exchange and information collection and dissemination. Since 2005, the Niigata Industrial Creation Organization (NICO) has had an office in Seoul run under the joint management of Niigata Prefecture and Niigata City.

<Economic and Trade Dalian Office>
The Niigata Economic and Trade Dalian Office was established in March 1997 through the joint initiative of the economic community and related local governments as the only representative office in China. Since April 2005 this office run by NICO has served as a bridge fostering economic exchange between Niigata and China.

Database of candidate partners

The approximately 1,100 businesses within Niigata can be searched according to user-selected conditions and criteria.

Available incentives

Niigata Prefecture offers a concentration of advanced technology and industry, first-rate intellectual resources, such as human resources and universities, and a fully-developed distribution transportation infrastructure, including expressways, ports, airports and more, which is a key component of both the domestic and international distribution network. With competition intensifying on a global scale and the business environment becoming increasingly harsh, Niigata Prefecture is helping businesses by offering one of the best preferential treatment systems in the country coupled with support for global business expansion which takes full advantage of the prefecture’s local resources.

<Subsidies and Tax Exemptions / Reductions> A preferential treatment system is in place which is suited to the various needs of companies
<Preferential Tax System> Real estate tax exemption/reduction; enterprise tax exemption/reduction (3 years) *Additional municipal subsidy and preferential treatment systems are also available, depending upon the municipality in which facilities are established.

Living environment for foreigners

Living environment

International relations advisors and the Niigata Help Society are available for overseas residents to discuss issues related to living in Niigata.

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