Japan to Spur Industrial Development along Fukushima Coast

Tokyo, April 25 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government on Wednesday approved plans to promote the development of robotics, renewable energy and other new industries along the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, as part of reconstruction efforts following the March 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent severe nuclear accident. The prefectural government in March filed for government approval for the plans, which are designed to speed up the Fukushima Innovation Coast initiative, designated as a national project under the revised special law on Fukushima reconstruction that took effect in May 2017. "Under the plans, we will further accelerate joint efforts on the scheme between the central and prefectural governments," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a meeting of related ministers on the day. The plans call for reducing patent application fees for small businesses in 15 municipalities in the Hamadori coastal and other areas in the prefecture, as well as fees for using state-owned facilities for robot development there. "Implementing the plans steadily will lead to the reconstruction of the Hamadori area," Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori told reporters. END