Japanese government will strengthen its financial assistance to private businesses looking to overseas infrastructure markets. Tokyo plans to increase funding through Japan Bank for International Cooperation especially for infrastructure developments that can present uncertainty yet high-yields. JBIC will expand investment in local currency for developing countries. Operation of Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, NEXI will be improved as well; allowing insurance money in US dollars and extending the insurance period up to 30 years.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the plan on November 21 at ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Malaysia. Japan intends to call private participation by the measures and to capture growing demands for infrastructure in Asia estimated at 100 trillion yen a year by 2020.

Japan also plans to make the process of issuing Japanese yen loan through Japan International Cooperation Agency easier for developing countries to access by shortening the lead time from current three years to one and a half years. (2015/11/25)