The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has formulated the “Basic Procedures to Implement SME Turnaround Support Committee Project (Industrial Recovery Consultation Center Project). The purpose of the procedures are to provide unified rules for implementation of the project with “Industrial Recovery Consultation Centers”, that will be established in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

For solution of overlapping debt problems, METI has held discussions many times with related people of the earthquake-affected prefectures and local financial institutions. It plans to establish an "Industrial Recovery Consultation Center" in each prefecture in accordance with the "Policy to Solve Overlapping Debt Problems" (decision at the ministerial meeting on overlapping debt problems on June 17).

METI hereby announces the "Basic Procedures to Implement SME Turnaround Support Committee Project (Industrial Recovery Consultation Center Project)" it has formulated to prepare unified rules for implementation of projects with "Industrial Recovery Consultation Centers".

• Refer to the attached material for details (PDF:611KB) (in Japanese)

In the areas damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the entities approved as those serving for support of revitalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accordance with the provision of Article 41 under the Act on Special Measures for Industrial Revitalization and Innovation will implement the industrial recovery consultation center project. This is a revitalization support project to provide assistance for work duties such as formulation of revival plans. The support will be performed by corporations entrusted with such duties under service contracts with the government (hereinafter referred to as "Consultation Center Project"; the entities implementing the Consultation Center Projects will be referred to as "Contract Corporations"). These procedures specify the contents, processes, standards etc. of the project with the following items:

Items of Basic Procedures for Implementation

1. Purpose of the project
2. Projects etc. of the Industrial Recovery Consultation Center
3. Industrial Recovery Consultation Center
4. General Consultation Counter
5. Work procedures of the revival plan development support division
6. Work procedures of the factoring support division
7. Announcement
8. Secrecy obligation

October 7, 2011

Business Support Division, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
Finance Division, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency