Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism revealed August 28 the budget request for fiscal 2015 starting next April. It is seeking 6.01 trillion yen for public works spending, up 16.2% from the previous year as part of a total 6.68 trillion yen request for the government’s general account budget. It is intended to bolster the construction industry which plays an important role in disaster relief and infrastructure management by securing stable amount of public spending for the long term.

The budget request focuses on sectors such as reconstruction of the East Japan earthquake, revitalization of regional economy, disaster prevention and upgrading aging infrastructure. As local revitalization has become a major challenge of the administration, the ministry will ask for 15.3 billion yen for development of “Compact Cities.” (2014/08/29)