Okayama City Achieves Record-High Corporate Location Results!

Results for Fiscal Year 2025

In fiscal year 2025, the number of corporate locations in Okayama City reached 20, the highest since public reporting began in fiscal year 2013.

Fixed asset investment also reached 35.93 billion yen, marking another record high. The cumulative performance since fiscal year 2013 totals 142 locations with investments of 170.7 billion yen.

Kibi Smart Interchange

The background to these record-breaking results includes increased corporate investment anticipating improved road network convenience, such as the 24-hour operation and large-vehicle compatibility of the Kibi Smart Interchange. Strategic support measures to promote corporate investment have also been successful.

Specifically, the relaxation of development permits in urbanization control areas around industrial bases implemented in fiscal year 2024, and the elimination of employment requirements for corporate location subsidies starting in fiscal year 2025, have strengthened support tailored to corporate needs, leading to the activation of corporate locations.

Moreover, corporate locations from outside the city, such as the relocation of headquarters functions from Tokyo, the establishment of Chugoku-Shikoku regional branches, and the expansion of IT-related companies, remain robust. The number of locations from outside the city reached 5, tying the record high. Businesses highly evaluate the following points as Okayama City's urban potential:

- Convenience of transportation: Locational superiority as a crossroads of the Chugoku-Shikoku region. - Human resources: An environment with many young people, advantageous for securing talent. - BCP measures: An environment with low disaster risk, suitable for formulating Business Continuity Plans (BCP).

Future Outlook

According to the results of the fiscal year 2022 citizen economic calculation for Okayama City, the real private investment increase rate over the 11 years since fiscal year 2011 was 18.8%, the third highest among ordinance-designated cities, indicating active corporate capital investment.

Within Okayama City, we are receiving consultations regarding new investments from multiple companies, including manufacturing plants, logistics facilities, headquarters/regional branches, and IT-related firms. Specifically, there are consultations from nearly 30 companies considering new locations around industrial bases, highway interchanges, and logistics axes. Therefore, we expect continued strong performance in fiscal year 2026.

We encourage companies considering locating in our city to make use of our subsidy programs and support systems for securing land.