The Japan External Trade Organization and 13 other entities, including the trade and foreign ministries, were to each set up an office Monday aiming to boost direct foreign investment in Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who aims to double such investment within five years to help revitalize the economy, was set to attend an opening ceremony at the JETRO office in the evening.
The envisioned offices at JETRO, 12 ministries and agencies, and the government-affiliated Development Bank of Japan, are aimed at making it easier for potential foreign investors to gather information, Fukuda said.
The offices were set up under a policy devised by Koizumi's panel for foreign investment. Koizumi unveiled the plan to double foreign investment in five years in January.
The JETRO office have 36 full-time staff, including English-speakers, legal experts and certified public accountants, government officials said. JETRO is an affiliate of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The JETRO staff will relay inquiries to similar offices at the relevant ministries if necessary, the officials said.
The e-mail address for the JETRO office, called the Invest Japan Business Support Center, is [email protected] and the contact telephone number is (03) 3584-6042.