Tokyo, August 28, 2015 - Rakuten, Inc. and Oita Prefecture today announced that they have concluded a comprehensive agreement to collaborate on revitalizing the prefecture and further enhancing services to its citizens through the utilization of the Internet.
Based on this agreement, Rakuten and Oita Prefecture will collaborate closely, and engage in collaborative projects that make effective use of their mutual resources. Specifically, the goal is to support Oita Prefecture’s local companies and business owners, revitalize the local economy, promote local industry, and further contribute to the development of the local community through collaboration with the various services that Rakuten provides. This includes six areas such as expanding sales channels for Oita Prefecture goods and agricultural products through the utilization of the Internet, promoting tourism, supporting disaster prevention and the provision of supplies and relief during disasters, and promoting hometown tax payments.
Oita Prefecture is proactively driving initiatives to develop and revitalize the region and halt the population decline with the local people of Oita.
With its philosophy of empowering people and society through the Internet, Rakuten has since its founding in 1997 established 17 branch offices throughout Japan, and supported local companies and business owners, with the aim of revitalizing local economies and contributing to the development of local communities.
Rakuten and Oita Prefecture will continue to deepen their cooperation through this agreement as they strive to revitalize Oita’s local economy and make it possible to provide better services to the prefecture’s citizens.