10. SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Small and Medium Enterprise Basic Law
The Law aims to provide new paths for small and medium enterprises and set forth goals of policies for those enterprises.

Law on Supporting Business Innovation of Small and Medium Enterprises
This law stipulates measures to support business innovation by small and medium enterprises in response to changes in the economic environment. It also provides measures to strengthen operating bases that contribute to future business innovation among small and medium enterprises which have been markedly affected by major changes in the economic environment, and thereby promote innovative development by small and medium enterprises and contribute to the sound development of the national economy.

Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation Law
Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation provides necessary guidance, finance, investment and assistance to promote the advancement of small and medium enterprises and the development of new businesses. The Corporation also provides loans to insurance and credit guarantee associations in connection with the guarantee of credit for facilitating funding of the activities of Small and Medium Enterprises. At the same time, the Corporation provides training and for rationalizing management and improving the technology of Small and Medium Enterprises, while administering a relief system under the Small Enterprise Mutual Relief Project Law and the Law on Mutual Relief System for the Prevention of Bankruptcies of Small and Medium Enterprise. These activities are aimed at contributing to the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Temporary Law concerning Measures for the Promotion of Creative Business Activities of Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law stipulates the rules of approval and others matters regarding research and development programs of small and medium enterprises, industries unions and others in order to enter into new business sectors.

Temporary Law concerning Measures for Smooth Adaptation to Structural Changes in Economy by Advancement of Specific Small and Medium Enterprises to New Fields, etc.
The Law aims to assist small and medium enterprises affected by the economic structural changes. It supports those enterprises to enter new business sectors or facilitate the business expansion to overseas.

Small and Medium Enterprise Modernization Promotion Law
The Law aims to assist structural improvement activities carried out by industry associations and others in accordance with industry-by-industry modernization plans in order to promote modernization of small and medium enterprises.

Law on Financial and Other Assistance for Small Business Modernization
The Law requests the national government to assist prefectural governments in necessary loans for modernization of facilities of small and medium enterprises.

Small Business Corporation Law
The Law stipulates the Small Business Corporation. The aim of the Corporation is to contribute to training and guidance for promoting advancement of small business structure and streamlining of corporate management. Its other duties include contributing to operation of mutual relief projects under the Small Enterprise Mutual Relief Projects Law and the Law on Mutual Relief System for the Prevention of Bankruptcies of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Small Business Finance Corporation Law
The Law stipulates the Small Business Finance Corporation. The Corporation's aim is to extend long-term loans which are necessary for the promotion of businesses of smaller companies but difficult to obtain from ordinary financial institutes.

Shoko Chukin Bank Law
The Law stipulates the Shoko Chukin Bank. The Bank's aim is to conduct necessary activities to facilitate financing toward the Cooperative Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises and other organizations composed mainly of small and medium enterprises.

Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Law
The Law sets small and medium enterprise credit insurance to facilitate financing of operation money for small and medium enterprises, aiming at their development.

Small Business Credit Insurance Corporation Law
The Law stipulates the Small Business Credit Insurance Corporation. The Corporation's aim is to facilitate financing of operation money for small and medium enterprises by insuring for compensation of their debts and providing necessary money toward the Credit Guarantee Association.

Credit Guarantee Association Law
The Law sets the system of the Credit Guarantee Associations aiming at smooth financing for small and medium enterprises. The system's main duties are to make guarantee for such debts when those enterprises are financed by other financial institutes.

Law concerning Special Fiscal Aid for Coping with Disasters
The Law provides the national government's special fiscal aid for local governments or special assistance measures for the damaged in case of extraordinary substantial disasters.

Law for Extraordinary Expenditure and Assistance to cope with Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
The Law stipulates special fiscal aid for local governments and special financial assistance measures toward the damaged small and medium enterprises to cope with Hanshi-Awaji earthquake.

Limited Partnership Act for Venture Capital Investment
This law stipulates a system of "venture capital investment limited partnership" to legally limit to capital invested the liability borne by limited partners with a view to promoting the provision of funds to venture business in Japan from various investors.

Small Business Investment Company Limited Law
The Law stipulates the Small Business Investment Company Limited. Its aims are to invest in and promote activities for small and medium enterprises to increase their shareholder's equity and healthy development of their businesses.

Law concerning the Promotion of Improvement of Employment Management in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises for Securing Manpower and Creating Quality Jobs
The Law stipulates support measures for small and medium enterprises that are members of the business cooperative associations or individual enterprises by the means of subsidies, loans, tax break and so forth. Enterprises are eligible to receive such supports when their business improvement plans are approved by local prefectural governments.

Small and Medium Enterprise Guidance Law
The Law stipulates planned and effective implementation of small and medium enterprise activities by the national government, local governments and the Small Business Corporations for the purpose of streamlining corporate management of such enterprises and improvement of their skills.

Law concerning the Organization of Small and Medium Enterprises Organizations
The Law stipulates establishment, organization, management and coordination of the Cooperative Associations, the Commerce and Industry Associations and the Federation of the Commerce and Industry Associations. It also stipulates the Small and Medium Enterprise Stabilization Council.

Law on the Cooperative Association of Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law stipulates establishment, organization and management of the Cooperative Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises (Business Cooperative Associations, Business Cooperative Small Associations, Cooperative Associations for Fires Mutual Relief, Credit Cooperative Associations, Federations of Cooperative Associations and Unions) and the Centers of Small and Medium Enterprise Organizations (Prefectural Centers of Small and Medium Enterprise Organizations and National Centers of Small and Medium Enterprise Organizations).

Law on Supporting Small Industries
The Law stipulates measures by regional economic organizations such as chambers of commerce and industry or commerce and industry associations to assist small enterprises to improve and develop their businesses through "Management Improvement Popularization Activities" and "Basic Facilities Activities.

Commerce and Industry Association Law
The Law stipulates the objectives, activities, operation, supervision and other aspects of the commerce and industry associations.

Law on Securing Business Opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises by Adjusting the Business Activities of Large Enterprises
The Law aims to adjust start and enlargement of business activities of large enterprises which may have an extreamly negative impact on the stability of the business operation of small and medium enterprises in accordance with the request of relevant small and medium enterprise associations. While paying attention to the protection of interests of consumers, adjustments are made by the competent minister in charge of the industries concerned. It also aims to guarantee proper business opportunities for small and medium enterprises through guidance to promote modernization and rationalization of their businesses.

Law concerning the Promotion of Efficient Distribution Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law stipulates procedures, necessities, contents and other aspects regarding assistance to efforts by small and medium enterprises to improve their efficiencies in distribution by the means of financing and tax break and others.

Law on Ensuring the receipt of Orders form the Government and Other Public Agencies by Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law aims to expand demand of materials supplied by small and medium enterprises. It stipulates measures to secure business opportunities for those enterprises regarding government's procurement contracts.

Law on the Promotion of Subcontracting Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law aims to promote subcontracting small and medium enterprises. It stipulates measures to promote their effective modernization and to introduce subcontracting business opportunities through the Association of the Promotion of Subcontracting Small and Medium Enterprises.

Law on the Prevention of Delay in the Payment of Subcontracting Charges and Related Matters
The Law aims at fair trade toward subcontractors by preventing delay in the payment of subcontracting charges.

Small Enterprise Mutual Relief Projects Law
The Law stipulates the system of mutual relief against retirement or bankruptcies of small enterprises and other incidents under the spirits of mutual assistance.

Law on Mutual Relief System for the Prevention of Bankruptcies of Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law stipulates the system of mutual relief to prevent bankruptcies of small and medium enterprises caused by bankruptcies of their clients.

Small and Medium Enterprise Retirement Allowance Cooperative Law
Aiming to contribute to enhancement of employees' rights in small and medium enterprises and promotion of such enterprises, the Law stipulates the retirement allowance cooperative system for such enterprises which are difficult to establish their own retirement allowance systems by the means of mutual relief and the governmental assistance.

Law on the Promotion of Small and Medium Retail Business
The Law stipulates measures to promote activities such as modernization of small retailers by improving local shopping districts and by encouraging concentration of stores and organization of joint stores.

Shopping District Promotion Association Law
By promoting environment improvement activities and joint business management in shopping districts with the participation of retailers, service businesses and other enterprises, the Law aims to contribute to healthy development of businesses in local districts and advancement of commonweal.

Law on Special Measures for the Adjustment of Retail Businesses
The Law stipulates the system for guaranteeing proper business opportunities for small retailers and for eliminating demand dampening factors against those retailers.

Law on Temporary Measures for Concerning Activation of Specific Small and Medium Enterprises
The Law stipulates measures to activate local area through diversification and adding value making use of techniques etc. specific to the area and tradition for the purpose of spontaneous development of small and medium enterprises.