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For decades, public works projects have carried the connotation of corruption and politicians, bureaucrats and contractors have been slammed for cozy ties and vested interests in building unnecessary infrastructure that hemorrhages money.

So in the government's latest growth strategy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing for an alternative type of public works project known as a private finance initiative, which allows private-sector entities to finance, construct and then operate infrastructure facilities in a more cost-effective and profitable way.