New Year’s Greetings

　Happy New Year!

　Looking back on last year, we had to worry about our livelihoods and socioeconomic status due to unpredictable events such as the explosive spread of COVID-19, Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, and the sharp depreciation of the yen.
　In response, the prefecture has been making every effort to support SMEs as well as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries businesses to enable them to continue their operations, as well as to build a strong industrial and economic structure to flexibly respond to various changes in the business environment that may occur in the future.
　We will, of course, continue to place top priority on protecting the lives and health of all prefectural residents this year. At the same time, we would like to make 2023 the year to envision the future of Fukuoka Prefecture—not looking down, but looking forward to the world—and to take another step forward on the path of growth and development.

　This year’s zodiac sign is the rabbit. Just as a rabbit keeps its big ears up and takes in information in order to leap, we are going to make Fukuoka Prefecture take a leap forward.

　To this end, the important thing is to develop human resources that will pioneer and carry the future of Fukuoka Prefecture.
　We will provide children with high-level learning opportunities through active use of ICT. In addition, we will review and enhance our initiatives for the sound development of youth and nurture future leaders of the community. We look forward to assisting young people who challenge themselves to achieve their dreams without fear of failure, whether they are studying abroad, engaging in sports and the arts, or starting their own businesses.
　We are also determined to foster human resources that will support and develop the prefecture’s industries, such as those who will become the core of DX for SMEs, those who have mastered cutting-edge semiconductor technology, and those who have excellent management sense in agriculture.

　Then, we must make the prefecture, which will be supported by such human resources, live up to the phrase “Fukuoka: the choice of the world.
　We intend to strategically attract companies by promoting the development of industrial parks that will serve companies in the semiconductor and EV-related industries. As TEAM FUKUOKA, a collaboration of industry, academia, and government, we will work to create a cluster of international financial functions.
　Meanwhile, we will focus on improving the brand value of our agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and expanding exports. At the same time, we will ensure the success of the Tour de Kyushu 2023 and other events, to attract tourists from Europe, the United States, and Australia, among other places.
　To build the foundation for further development, we are also committed to the runway improvements at Fukuoka Airport and Kitakyushu Airport, and early completion of the Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu Road.　

　For Fukuoka Prefecture to make a leap forward, it is important to sow the seeds and nurture the buds of future development.
　We will step up our efforts to form green device development/production bases and green production bases for automobiles, which are undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation, by taking advantage of the industry-academia-government promotion organization that was developmentally reorganized and established last year with ”green” as a key concept. At the same time, we will strive to realize a virtuous cycle between the environment and the economy through CO2-free green hydrogen.
　In addition, we will seek to grow industries that will open up the future, such as the bio-industry, where a series of successful startup models are emerging in fields such as drug discovery and regenerative medicine; the space business, which includes wide-ranging fields such as the construction of satellite constellations; and wind power generation, in which local companies are expected to participate in order to respond to the demand for many components.
　Moreover, new initiatives to support and nurture startups from universities and other organizations will be undertaken.

　We have been struggling to cope with COVID-19 for three years now. Promotion of “One Health” is important to deal with zoonotic diseases like this.
　We will promote the practice of One Health through the One Health certification of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and the One Health declaration business registration system. The prefecture aims to become a world leader in One Health through the development of the nation’s first One Health Center as well as through collaboration with the FAVA One Health Fukuoka Office and universities.

　While focusing on these areas, we will also promote efforts to eliminate discrimination and prejudice and to protect children from abuse. Our goal is to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and to support the independence and social participation of people with disabilities, thereby creating a society in which everyone, regardless of age, gender, or disability, can fully demonstrate their abilities.

　To ensure the safety and security of the lives of residents, we will also work to combat drunk driving, eradicate sexual violence, prevent telephone fraud, and eliminate anti-social forces.

　The JR Hitahikosan Line, which suffered extensive damage from the torrential rains in northern Kyushu in 2017, will be restored and opened as the “BRT Hikoboshi Line” this summer. We will continue to do our utmost to reconstruct and restore the affected areas, and in preparation for natural disasters, which are becoming more intense and frequent, we will advance watershed flood control, take disaster risk reduction measures, and improve the resilience of the prefectural land.

　In this way, we will work hand in hand with the prefectural residents to open the door to the future and lead Fukuoka Prefecture to further growth and development as the leading prefecture in Kyushu. Fukuoka Prefecture will be a place where everyone can live with peace of mind and many smiles.

　Please let us conclude by sincerely hoping that 2023 will be a wonderful year for you.