Creating a Virtuous Cycle in Local Economies and Industries Through Regional Development

「In March this year, to revitalize the Chiba-Minato area where the Bank’s head office is located, the Bank collaborated with surrounding local governments and businesses to hold the special “Chiba Everyone Sports Festival,” aiming to create new vibrancy through events including sports viewing.」

「The Bank supported the special “Boso Transverse Railway Tasuki Project,” which aims to revitalize the areas along the Kominato and Isumi railway lines crossing the Boso Peninsula by supporting the creation of new Chiba-related products, services and events. It also supported a pilot tour for the demonstration project “A Journey to Experience Choshi, the Fishermen’s Town, with All Five Senses,” undertaken by the Choshi Fishermen’s Town Revitalization Council to create new tourism content.」

「Last April, the Bank supported 株式会社正和物産 in developing the tourism-oriented multipurpose facility “Kamogawa Seaside Base,” advancing initiatives to create greater vibrancy in the region. It also supported Josai International University’s “Ichihara City and Yoro Valley Regional Revitalization Project Using Crowdfunding,” as well as various demonstration projects conducted with 株式会社飯沼本家, the Narita City Tourism Association, 有限会社魚眠庵マルキ本館 and others to promote the sustainable development of local communities and revitalize the regional economy.」

「For regional revitalization, the Bank concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement on regional revitalization with Sodegaura City last April to promote the sustainable development of local communities, the revitalization of the regional economy and improved public services. It also focused on supporting various demonstration projects for regional revitalization conducted by the Tōnōshō Town Tourism Association, 株式会社飯沼本家, 富洋観光開発株式会社, 有限会社魚眠庵マルキ本館 and others. In March this year, the project “Contributing to Regional Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Donation of an ECMO Vehicle and Use of the Bank’s Training Center” was selected as an “Outstanding Initiative by a Financial Institution or Other Organization Contributing to Regional Revitalization” for FY2022 by the Secretariat of the Council for Realizing the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation in the Cabinet Secretariat.」

「For regional revitalization, the Bank concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Matsudo City on regional revitalization and the SDGs last October to promote the sustainable development of local communities, the revitalization of the regional economy and improved public services. It also focused on supporting various demonstration projects for regional revitalization with Isumi Railway Co., Ltd., the Choshi City Tourism Association, the Tōnōshō Town Tourism Association, Minamiboso Tourism Area Cooperative Association and others. In addition, the “Business Development Support Project for Wildlife Damage Control Services and Game Meat Distribution,” which the Bank Group fully supported in commercializing, was selected in March this year as an “Outstanding Initiative by a Financial Institution or Other Organization Contributing to Regional Revitalization” for FY2021 by the Secretariat of the Council for Realizing the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation in the Cabinet Secretariat.」

「As part of its regional revitalization initiatives, the Bank held an online regional revitalization seminar last September introducing the appeal of working in rural areas and ways to utilize vacant public facilities in Chiba Prefecture. In March this year, it also concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement on regional revitalization with Tōnōshō Town to promote the development of local communities and the revitalization of the regional economy.」

「To promote the development of local communities and the revitalization of the regional economy, the Bank concluded partnership agreements with Otaki Town, Nagareyama City and others concerning tourism-oriented community development using historical resources. It also supported businesses contributing to tourism promotion and job creation through the Chibagin Traditional House Business Support Program.」

「To promote the development of local communities and the revitalization of the regional economy, the Bank concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement on regional revitalization with Ichihara City and established the “Regional Revitalization Strategy Research Promotion Platform” with leading companies in the prefecture as a new framework for promoting regional revitalization in Chiba. It also supported startups and new businesses through its proprietary Regional Revitalization Loan Program. As a result of these broad-ranging activities, in March this year the “Project to Utilize Vacant Public Facilities in the Choshi Area” was recognized by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Revitalizing the Economy as an “Outstanding Initiative by a Financial Institution or Other Organization Contributing to Regional Revitalization” and received an award from the Minister of State for Special Missions.」

「To promote the use of former school sites, vacant public facilities and traditional houses in Chiba Prefecture, the Bank actively participated from the business planning stage in cooperation with group companies including 株式会社ちばぎん総合研究所, while also providing financial support.」

「In terms of operations, the Group as a whole focused on regional revitalization. In cooperation with 株式会社ちばぎん総合研究所, it announced the “Second Chiba Prefecture Revitalization Strategic Plan,” conducted reviews and made proposals concerning local governments’ regional revitalization initiatives, and held various seminars. In addition, beginning in June last year, it launched the “Regional Revitalization Private Placement Bond Program,” also known as the “Mirai Hagukumi Bond,” under which it uses part of the underwriting fees received from companies issuing privately placed bonds to purchase educational supplies and donate them to schools designated by the issuing companies.」

「The Group as a whole focused on regional revitalization initiatives. In formulating the “Chiba Prefecture Revitalization Strategic Plan” in cooperation with 株式会社ちばぎん総合研究所, it proposed future directions to local governments based on the characteristics of each region of the prefecture, and the plan was cited by the Cabinet Office’s Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Revitalizing the Economy as an outstanding example. In addition, it participated in implementation bodies in 47 of the 55 municipalities in the prefecture as they formulated their local comprehensive strategies. To facilitate funding for projects contributing to regional revitalization, it established the “Wide-Area Chiba Regional Revitalization Fund” with ちばぎんキャピタル株式会社 and REVIC Capital Co., Ltd., and began offering the “Chibagin Regional Revitalization Loan Program” for startups and new businesses.」