Whenever a big event such as the Olympics or the World Exposition ends, the host city's economy is forecast to suffer a setback. But such a scenario seems unlikely for the Chubu region, where the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture will end on Sunday.
Led by local blue-chip automaker Toyota Motor Corp., the region often dubbed as "the manufacturing kingdom" enjoys robust economic activity, with the ratio of job offers to job-seekers in Aichi Prefecture the highest in Japan.
Analysts say the regional economy is unlikely to plunge after the expo ends Sept. 25 because the area, which did not make an excessive investment to host the event, can count its heightened international profile and new infrastructure to lure investment.