The Cabinet Office said Wednesday it will submit a fiscal 2003 budget request of 1.93 billion yen related to the establishment of a new university featuring a graduate school curriculum focusing on natural sciences in Okinawa in 2007.
The overall budget for Okinawa development sought by the office has risen 16.4 percent from the current fiscal year to 370.78 billion yen, of which 327.61 billion yen will be allotted toward public investment.
The budget request was unveiled at a meeting of the Okinawa development committee of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Of the 1.93 billion yen earmarked for the university, 1.1 billion yen will be used to fund research grants for scholars, while 240 million yen will be used to fund the design of the university's facilities.
The Cabinet Office will also pursue tax breaks for a foundation that will operate the university.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office is also seeking 370 million yen to promote effective use of vacant lots at U.S. military bases, after these bases, including the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, are transferred to other sites.