The land ministry will promote infrastructure investments in selected areas in a bid to enhance the international competitiveness of the nation's cities, according to officials.
While 65 locations in Hokkaido, Miyagi, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka and 10 other prefectures are currently designated as areas for special urban redevelopment projects, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will narrow the number to less than half for the new investment program, the officials said.
The ministry included ¥6.1 billion for the project in its budget request for fiscal 2011.
Candidate areas will be sorted out based on a set of criteria, including whether they have infrastructure that enables companies to oversee their operations in Asia around the clock, high standards of public security, education and medical care, and advanced disaster prevention and energy-saving systems.