Regional Development in Okinawa, Japan

JICA Seminar - Regional Development in Japan – Okinawa Case Study : 

JICA Seminar - Regional Development in Japan – Okinawa Case Study By Group A Okinawa International Center 2 August 2008 Tanzania Cambodia China Fiji Myanmar Mongolia Kyrgyzstan Vietnam Uzbekistan

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa Weaknesses Higher Unemployment Less Industrialization Individual Oriented Lack of Water Resources Lack of Human Resources Remote Area Higher Immigration

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) Strengths Rich Natural Environment Unique Culture and History Agricultural Potential (Crop Plantation, ) Subtropical Climate

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) Industrial Structure Agriculture (Hibiscuses, Sugarcane, Shigusa, Shell Ginger, Fishing, Getto.etc) Tourism ( Very Beautiful Landscape, Flower Plantation, Golf, and Baseball….) Manufacture (Awamori, Bio-ethanol, Getto Soap, Shigusa Juice, IT….

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) What are the specialties there? Very Beautiful Landscape Unique Culture and History Flower Plantation Fishing

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) Size of production Small (local demand) Classification of the specialties Light industrial (Bio ethanol industrial…) Tourism Industrial (Golf, Baseball, Flower Plantation…) Agricultural Farming (Livestock, Crop Plantation…)

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) : 

Economic Background of Northern Okinawa (Cont’) Intervention to Tackle the Issues Providing Subsidy (Infrastructure, Tax Policy, IT system) Promoting SME (Shigusa Juice, Getto Soap) Outcomes of Intervention Transportation, Electricity, Tax Incentive, Available Services, E-com,…) Soap Cosmetic Product, Shigusa Product..

Utilization of local resources-Challenges : 

Utilization of local resources-Challenges Geographic location and topography Development disparities Aging population High unemployment rate

Why these problems emerge? : 

Why these problems emerge? Migration Age disparities Geographical isolation

Outcomes : 

Outcomes Initiatives for economic development-REI,ECOM etc. A lot of researches (ECOM, Bio-ethanol etc.) Rehabilitation of natural resources (Hibiscus, reforestation)

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations : 

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations The motives of each organization to solve the problems Promoting local community economy, health, environment

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’) : 

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’) The roles of Concern Organizations Government Set up subsidy policy (Accessibilities) Tax incentive Free Trade Zone Private Sector Promoting local products Providing facilities (market information, networking, training…) (Environmental conservative initiative)

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’) : 

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’) Strength High motivation of both local people and concern organizations Geography of the region (special products, views) Weaknesses Less labor forces Isolated region Weak attractiveness of investment Disparity education system…

Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’) : 

Recommendations Play more important role to: create more employment opportunities, attract more investments , provide efficient information flowing Support SMEs (tax incentives) Holding International events and sport tournaments Create online system of promotion and selling local products Factors Contribute to the Problems and the Role of Concern Organizations (Cont’)

Applicability to our Communities : 

Applicability to our Communities Most are applicable to our various countries But, we need to modify, adapt, adopt these systems to best suit our different situations (geographical, topographical, political, scientific, economic settings and capabilities)

Slide 16: 

THANK YOU!