Special Zone for Asian Headquarters: Tokyo’s Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness Development

December 22, 2011
Headquarters of the Governor of Tokyo

Based on the Comprehensive Special Zones Act enacted this August by the Japanese government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government had applied to the government for designation of areas as Comprehensive Special Zones for International Competitiveness Development and has proposed easing of regulations and other new preferential treatment in line with this application.
In December 2011, these areas, called the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters, received this designation by the national government. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will work strongly to promote this project and have foreign companies establish their Asian headquarters in Tokyo.

1. Name of the Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness Development

“Special Zone for Asian Headquarters”

2. Objective of the application and proposals

The aim of the application and proposals is to have Tokyo become the site for the Asian headquarters of global businesses and, consequently, the business hub of Asia. By seeking bold deregulation, preferential tax treatment, and other measures based on the Comprehensive Special Zone Act, as well as leveraging urban renaissance projects to strategically build a highly disaster-resistant city and actively luring foreign companies, Tokyo will form an attractive environment in which foreign enterprises and Tokyo’s technologically-advanced small and medium-sized companies can spur each other on to create new technologies and services.

3. Special Zone areas

1. Special Priority Development Areas for Urban Renaissance (including some adjacent areas) scheduled for Tokyo
2. Vacant site formerly used by Haneda Airport

4. Overview of application and proposals

See attached Concept for the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters

5. Community Council for the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters

This council was established on September 26 under the Comprehensive Special Zone Act to build a system in which the public and private sectors cooperate under a clear division of roles and responsibilities and work as one to promote this concept.

6. Reference

• Comprehensive Special Zone
  Established under the Comprehensive Special Zone Act, the Comprehensive Special Zone system aims to make Japan’s economy and society more dynamic and sustainable through the comprehensive and intensive implementation of policies that will strengthen the international competitiveness of industries and revitalize communities.
• Comprehensive Special Zones for International Competitiveness Development
  This zone aims to become an intensive strategic base for industries and functions that drive Japan’s economic growth through the comprehensive implementation of special treatment through deregulation and tax, fiscal, and financial support.
• Special Priority Development Area for Urban Renaissance
  Among areas ordained for urgent and priority urban development as hubs for the city’s regeneration (Priority Development Areas for Urban Renaissance), Special Priority Development Areas are those areas for which it has been recognized that urgent and priority development through smooth and swift implementation of urban development projects would be especially effective in strengthening the city’s international competitiveness. These areas have also been designated by government ordinance.