 |
| The city of Kobe provides the best environment for investment by foreign-affiliated companies. |
|
 |
 |
|
The City of Kobe is one of the core cities in the Kansai economic bloc
and maintains Japan’s second largest economy. The Kansai area’s
economy exceeds the GNP of Canada at approximately 93 trillion yen. With
a gross city product of approximately 6.4682 trillion yen (as of 2006),
Kobe has roughly 73,000 business establishments located within the city,
clear evidence of Kobe’s economic magnitude. |
|
 |
Kobe has a population of approximately
1.53 million residents and is surrounded by an enormous concentration
of markets including the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, etc.)
with a population of 24 million. In addition, Kobe is also
connected with the island of Shikoku and its population of
4 million via the towering Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world’s
longest suspension bridge.
The high concentration of foreign-affiliated companies is one of the major
characteristics of Kobe’s economy. Many of the 73,000 business establishments
within the city are active in the wholesale, service, and manufacturing
industries. Of this number, roughly 200 enterprises are foreign-affiliated.
Nestle, the food manufacturer, Procter and Gamble, manufacturer of daily
necessities and chemical products, and other global enterprises have headquarters
here in Kobe and contribute greatly to the local economy.
Although the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in January 1995 devastated a substantial
portion of the industries in Kobe, restoration was remarkable and highly evaluated
both from abroad and at home. Ten years after the devastating earthquake, the
municipal government and private sectors of Kobe are now working on shifting
from a heavy industry-base to an intensive intelligence-based structure, in seeking
the further development of Kobe’s economy. |
Population |
Approx. 1,536,125 (male: 727,727/ female: 808,398) |
June 1st, 2009 |
| Business establishments |
72,788 (# of employees: 718,492) |
October 1st, 2006 |
| Area |
552.80 km2 |
June 1st, 2009 |
| GDP |
¥6,468,200 million (real) |
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Along with Kobe’s traditional
local industries, new industries utilizing IT, science
and technology have a high potential in Kobe. The existence
of a wide range of industries from global enterprises
to small- and medium-sized manufacturers is one of
Kobe’s strengths.
Industries in Kobe have developed around the port as the core, supported the
city, and made a great contribution in the formation of Kobe’s unique culture
and history. The range of companies is diverse including heavy industry such
as shipbuilding, industrial machines, iron, and steel, with local industries
including clothes, chemical shoes, pearls, Western furniture, coffee, Western
cake and refined sake. All of these industries play an important role in vitality
of the city.
Furthermore, to keep up with the times, industries related to public health,
welfare and medical care have grown rapidly in recent years along with the Kobe
Medical Industry Development Project being promoted by the city. Thus, a new
industrial structure is being created by maintaining a balance between nurturing
developing industries and adding more value to the existing ones. Kobe also aims
at revitalizing industry even further by supporting venture businesses and by
devoting its efforts towards a partnership with universities and research institutions.
Business partners in Hyogo Prefecture
Research facilities in Hyogo Prefecture |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
New Corporate Development Headquarters, Kobe Enterprise Promotion Bureau
City Hall, Bldg. 1, 6-5-1 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-8570
Tel 078-322-6216 Fax 078-322-6072 invest@office.city.kobe.lg.jp
|
|
|
|
