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Fukushima
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Koriyama is Fukushima Prefecture's center of commerce. The city leads the prefecture in the annual amount of merchandise sales, both wholesale and retail, followed by Fukushima, Iwaki and Aizu-Wakamatsu cities. Each year sees a rise in the prefecture's total wholesale and retail merchandise sales results.
At the same time, however, the prefecture's commerce activity has been buffeted by changes in consumer attitudes and severe competition posed by other prefectures, where large-scale stores have opened. The latter development in particular has greatly affected local shopping districts in Fukushima, resulting in many stores, especially larger ones, moving from downtown to suburban areas. The prefecture is taking steps to revitalize downtown shopping districts.
Support Measures
To thrive, a shopping district must not only supply commodities, it must also provide customers with enjoyment, comfort and excitement. To this end, the prefectural government is aggressively
promoting the construction of shopping districts, complete with such cultural facilities as a community event hall, as well as stores and other commercial establishments.
The government also supports local shopping districts' plans to hold events and festivals to attract more customers.
On a municipal government level too, efforts are being made to renovate local shopping districts into more appealing ones that blend harmoniously with respective townscapes.
Culture Center and Trade Fair Hall
To further invigorate industry in the prefecture, Fukushima is planning the construction of a trade fair hall in Koriyama, to serve as a base for information exchange and trade between corporations.
Plans are also under way to build an industry and culture center in Fukushima City. The center will have the parallel functions of supporting corporate activities and expanding the cultural resources of the citizens of the prefecture.
Internationalization of Commercial Activities
Fukushima Prefecture is also working hard to increase the volume of its industrial products sold abroad, and the overall trend for export has been upward.
Electric machinery and precision machinery account for more than 80% of Fukushima's export total. The prefectural government also strives to raise exports of agricultural products by taking part in
international trade fairs both in Japan and abroad.
The number of local enterprises venturing overseas continues to rise, and economic exchange with other countries promises to increase further
with the completion of Fukushima Airport, the opening of the Ban'etsu Expressway - connecting the Sea of Japan Coast with the Pacific Coast - and the upgrading of such Fukushima seaports as Soma and
Onahama.
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