Investing in Japan

Akita

The information below is as of March 2011.

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• Basic Information
• Regional Profile
• Services for investment in Japan
• Available incentives
• Links to Related Websites

Basic Information

Population*1	1.09 million
Labor force*1	0.54 million
Area*2	11,636 km²
GDP*3	3,655,243 million yen
Major industries	Electronic components/devices, production and commercial machinery, food, lumber/wood products, and chemistry
Developing industries	Electronic devices, resource recycling/new energy, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals/medical equipment, and nanotechnology
Offices overseas	Seoul, South Korea (2002)
Offices in Japan	Tokyo / Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture / Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture / Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
JETRO office	JETRO Akita

*1 Population Census 2010, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications　*2 Area data 2010, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan *3 Prefectural Citizens' Economic Accounts 2008, Cabinet Office

*Ask the local government for the latest data.

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

In terms of manufacturing industries, Akita Prefecture is characterized by the high weight of the electronic component/device industry, which accounts for approximately 30% of the total value of shipments from the prefecture, and has the largest workforce in Akita Prefecture, thus establishing itself as the leading industry of the prefecture. In the past, Akita was one of the few mining regions in Japan, and that is why the prefecture boasts an advanced metal recycling industry that takes advantage of mineral processing technologies. In addition, inflow of the automotive and other transport equipment industries into the Tohoku district is distinct, and the growth in the medical/pharmaceutical industry exemplifies the accelerating aging of the population in the prefecture in recent years.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

<Akita International University>
The university teaches all classes in English, and applies a unique education system that includes mandatory overseas education for a period of one year and small-group instruction provided by numerous foreign lecturers in order to nurture human resources that possess global specialized knowledge and practical skills.

<Akita Prefectural University>
As a base for the creation of new scientific industries, Akita Prefectural University aims to achieve creative research and development through educational research and industry-government-academia collaboration. The Faculty of Systems Science and Technology in particular promotes collaborative research with leading-edge electronic and precision technology companies.

<Akita University>
Akita University tackles research and education at the highest global standards in each research field. The university is nationally known for its development of technologies for mine resources. Furthermore, the comprehensive research into biological regulation implemented by the Faculty of Medicine was selected as one of the projects under the Global COE Program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Strength of the region's industry-government-academia collaboration

The Akita Prefectural Industrial Technology Center aims to create five advanced industrial clusters of nanotechnology, next-generation communications, transportation equipment, liaison between the medical and engineering industries, and environment and new energy. In order to achieve this, the Center is promoting collaborative research with universities and commercial companies; transferring technical seeds to the private sector; and nurturing ventures based in universities to tackle the commercialization of new technologies and the creation of new industries that meet the needs of the times. This particularly applies to the transportation equipment field in which the Center established the Akita Automobile Industry Promotion Council in collaboration with the prefecture and the Akita Industrial Advancement Center to invite automobile-related companies to take advantage of Akita Port as a gateway to the coastal cities of Russian Far East　(the Maritime Province of Siberia). In addition, the Industrial Technology Center is making efforts to create clusters by matching the needs of medicine and seeds of engineering.

Strength of the region's infrastructure

Akita Prefecture is directly connected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area via a high-speed transportation network including Akita Airport, Akita Shinkansen, and Akita Expressway. It is also connected to the major cities all around the world via Northeast Asian cities across the Sea of Japan through tri-weekly flights to Seoul and five containership services a week to Pusan, Korea.
Akita Port is utilizing the advantages of its geographical proximity to some maritime provinces in Russia. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has launched verification tests of sea and rail transport to establish an import/export route to Russia and Europe utilizing the Trans-Siberian Railway in future, and is advancing work to establish Akita Port as a new international physical distribution base.

<Land>

Akita Expressway provides approximately three-hour access from Akita to Sendai and seven hours to Tokyo.

<Air>

Akita Airport has daily flights to Japan's major cities Tokyo (seven flights), Osaka (two flights), Nagoya (three flights), and Sapporo (three flights). The Odate-Noshiro Airport serves two daily flights to Tokyo. In addition to the domestic flights, Akita Airport also provides three flights weekly to Seoul with links to major cities worldwide.

<Sea>

Four container services a week are in operation from Akita Port to Pusan. The total volume of the cargoes shipped in 2008 is 30,728 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), the second largest in Tohoku to Sendai-Shiogama Port. In addition, an irregular service of an automobile carrier to Vladivostok Port started in 2007, and this is expected to become the first step to integrated sea-and-rail transport using the Trans-Siberian Railway.

<Railway>

Tokyo in approximately four hours from Akita by Akita Shinkansen. Recently, railways are becoming popular again as a means of cargo transportation that generate less CO2. In Akita Port where the distance between a railway station and a container berth is extremely short, the national government started a model experiment of sea-and-rail transport that carries marine freight containers on a train. New strength of railway transportation is emerging here.

(Related information)

• Education: Akita International University
• Education: Akita Prefectural University
• Education: Akita University

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services	Fees charged?	Content of services
Providing market information
Advice on market participation	No	Consultation is provided by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture or the Akita Industrial Advancement Center.
Support for finding customers
Listing of potential customers and partners	No	Candidates are introduced by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture or the Akita Industrial Advancement Center using their network.
Listing of potential customers and partners	No	Candidates are introduced by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture or the Akita Industrial Advancement Center using their network.
Support for establishing a base
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities	Yes	The Creation Support Office in Akita Prefectural Government's Building #2 and space in an incubation office operated by Akita City named “Challenge Office Akita” may be used.
Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan	No	Information is provided by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture
Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services)	No	Arrangement is offered by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture.
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel	No	Arrangement is offered by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture.
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures	No	Information is provided by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture
Providing information on subsidy programs	No	Information is provided by the staff of the Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture

The Industrial Agglomeration Division of Akita Prefecture provides support for foreign companies considering investments in Akita Prefecture. Making use of its network, the Office offers information about the procedures for incorporation, as well as industrial sites, human resources, universities, research institutes, and business partners, free of charge. Subsidies may be granted for part of the initial investment such as investment in plants and equipment.

Available incentives

• Subsidy for investment in plant and equipment: A subsidy equal to 20% of the investment in plant and equipment (3.5 billion yen maximum) may be offered to companies locating a factory in the prefecture. Four billion yen may be paid at a maximum if it includes a research and development facilities.

• Preferential taxation: Local taxes (real estate acquisition tax, enterprise tax and fixed asset tax) may be exempted for designated industry types located in designated areas.

• Funding programs: One billion yen maximum may be lent at 1.8% per annum with repayment terms of 10 years for the investment in factory construction.

• Industrial location guide: Akita Prefecture Industrial Area Guide
• Incentive: Akita's Incentives Programs

Links to Related Websites

Local governments and related organizations

• Official website: Akita Prefecture
• Industrial location guide: Akita Prefecture Industrial Area Guide

Incentives

• Incentive: Akita's Incentives Programs

Education

• Akita International University
• Akita Prefectural University
• Akita University

Transportation / living

• Airport: Akita Airport
• Healthcare: Akita Emergency Medical Information System
• International exchange: Akita International Association
• Other living information : Tourist information on Akita Prefecture