Investing in Japan

Regional Information Kobe city
Your Regional Guide : Koji Omae
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Kobe Enterprise Promotion Bureau Foreign Investment Group
6-5-1 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-city, Hyogo Prefecture 650-8570 |

Kobe
- If you can't find the information you need, please contact JETRO
.
- Please note that inquires not regarding investment in Japan may not be answered.
The information below is as of November 2017. (Basic Information: September 2018)
Basic Information
Population *1 | 1.53 million |
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Labor force *1 | 0.72 million |
Area (square kilometer) *2 | 312.0 |
GDP *3 | 6,591,650 million yen |
Major industries | General machinery, transport machinery, electric machinery, iron & steel, food products |
Wage *4 |
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Land price(for 1square meter) *5 |
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Number of Establishments *6 | 73,660 |
Number of Employees *6 | 776,937 |
Offices overseas |
Seattle, US / Tianjin and Shanghai, China |
JETRO office |
JETRO Kobe |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
Since its port was opened to the world in 1868, Kobe has developed as an international port city, and its cosmopolitan living environment (schools, hospitals, etc.) attracts over 40,000 foreign-nationals from 123 countries to the city. Impressed by these features, many overseas and foreign-affiliated companies have located their head offices in the city. Kobe now attracts a variety of industries, e.g., manufacturing as a strong point of Kobe, and medical care, an industry in which Kobe has been engaging to be recognized as a medical industrial city, which contributes to the formation of industrial clusters in the city.
Foreign company(s) operating in the industry
Companies from a variety of countries and regions have developed business in Kobe City, including those from European, North American and Asian countries and many of them have located their Headquarters in the city. They seem to be comfortable in the city’s working, living and accessibility environments for their employees, which are advantages for workers.
Available incentives
Subsidy programs for office rent are available for overseas companies that have established their business sites in the International Economic Site Zone and have been accredited by Hyogo Prefecture as meeting the standards as an International Economic Exchange Business.
In addition, the city provides other well-tailored subsidy programs concerning tax breaks for city taxes and business investment.
Incentive name |
Subsidy Programs for Overseas and Foreign-Affiliated Companies Concerning Office Rent |
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Incentive type | Subsidy |
Incentive target industries |
All |
Outline of Incentives (Requirements etc.) |
Subsidizing 1/4 or less rent, 750 yen/m2 per month; up to 10 million yen per year for up to 3 years (other requirements are set) |
Services for investment in Japan
Providing market information | Advice on the matters related to entering into Japanese market |
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Support for establishing a base | Consultation on the matters related to establishing a Japanese base, Provision of facilities including a incubation office |