Osaka & Osaka Prefecture

Could you share your visions for the global financial city Osaka aspires to become?

With the aim of realizing Global Financial City OSAKA with its own distinctive strengths and functions, we have set out two target visions for Osaka as an international financial hub.

The first is to become a global city that leverages finance as a catalyst for growth, attracting capital, talent, and businesses from around the world. The second is to position Osaka as a financial front-runner city, taking on global challenges through pioneering initiatives.

By making full use of the special zone framework and aligning regulations — currently regarded by overseas players as barriers throughout the entire process from market entry to business expansion — with global standards, we seek to build a global financial city that can compete on par with leading financial centers worldwide.

What are the main advantages or unique characteristics of your Special Zone that contribute to its appeal?

Osaka is the largest city in western Japan and boasts an economic scale comparable to that of an advanced nation. The city is home to a strong concentration of leading Japanese corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises with highly advanced technological capabilities.

Furthermore, Osaka and its surrounding region host a number of universities and research institutions engaged in world-class research and development, having produced many Nobel Prize laureates.

With numerous groundbreaking products and services originating in Osaka and expanding globally, the city has cultivated a strong spirit of challenge and provides fertile ground for innovation to emerge.

Could you describe any notable traits or trends among the businesses currently operating in your Special Zone?

Osaka has flourished as a “city of medicine” for approximately 400 years, and today continues to host a strong concentration of life sciences–related companies, including major pharmaceutical firms.

The city is also home to many leading energy-related companies, and is actively engaged in research and development of decarbonization technologies, giving Osaka a distinct strength in the deep tech sector.

In addition, Osaka serves as a key location for backup operations supporting the core functions of Japan’s financial system. With megabanks and major securities companies that have deep roots in the city, Osaka has developed a strong concentration of financial functions.

Furthermore, pioneering initiatives unique within Japan—such as the creation of new markets and products utilizing blockchain technology—have emerged in Osaka, reflecting a strong corporate culture that embraces innovation and new challenges.

What would you like to say to businesses that are thinking about setting up operations in Japan or your Special Zone?

We have a one-stop service desk that provides consultations in English for foreign financial institutions considering entry into the Japanese market. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of incentives to encourage the establishment of business operations, including Japan’s first local corporate tax reduction scheme and subsidies for setting up local offices.

Furthermore, in collaboration with private-sector partners, we actively facilitate numerous business-matching opportunities with local companies based in Osaka. By leveraging the special zone framework, we also support financial innovation initiatives such as pilot and proof-of-concept projects.

If you are interested in expanding your business operations in Osaka, please feel free to contact us. We are fully committed to supporting you.

© Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau