In an attempt to calm worries over rising imported material costs and labor shortages that have delayed construction of foreign pavilions for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Japan Expo, the central government will set up a new insurance plan that will provide funding to construction firms if countries fail to pay.
But doubts remain over whether the move will be enough to encourage more than 50 countries to design, build and complete their pavilions before the expo opens in April 2025.
The insurance plan was announced by trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Wednesday.