Takaichi pledges support for regional industrial cluster plans

Thank you all very much for your hard work today. Today, we received a variety of proposals from the governors and mayors who joined us. In particular, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your presentations on highly ambitious Regional Industrial Cluster Plans and Local Industry Growth Plans that leverage the distinctive characteristics of each region, ranging from space industry clusters to agriculture and tourism clusters. I find it very encouraging to see the strong determination of local governments to use the Strategy for the Future of Regions as an opportunity to bring together businesses and human resources that had previously pursued their own initiatives independently, with technologies and tourism resources unique to each region at the core, thereby forming new “industrial clusters.” We will fully embrace the tremendous “passion” and “spirit of challenge” demonstrated by local governments in their efforts to “completely transform their regions and transform regional areas,” and we will do everything in our power to support them. I understand that local governments throughout Japan are currently working to formulate these plans. I look forward to hearing about further initiatives going forward. Let us also do everything we can to support them. Thank you all very much for your hard work today.