Construction of Naha Port international distribution center to begin in FY 2015

October 18, 2013　Ryukyu Shimpo

The Naha Port Comprehensive Logistics Center is moving ahead to provide services from April 2018. The facility will have advanced distribution support and processing capabilities, such as sorting cargo between arrival and departure from home and abroad. The air cargo logistics center has been making progress within the Naha Airport Area, but the development of Naha Port to enhance the seaport’s logistics capabilities has become an issue for the Okinawa economy. The business community also has requested that Okinawa Prefectural Government assist in developing Naha Port. With the construction project, international logistics hub projects in Naha will go into full swing both in the sea and the sky.

The Naha Port Authority has been jointly established by the Okinawa Prefectural Government and the cities of Naha and Urasoe. With the enhancement of the logistics center, the port authority expects to ship cargo more efficiently and to save on land transportation costs at Naha Port, where there are insufficient warehouse options. It is also possible that establishing a facility to process the goods will create new jobs.

According to the plan, the center will be a three-story building with a total floor area of about 3.5 hectares. The estimated cost to complete the project is about 7.4 billion yen. Making use of no-strings-attached state subsidies, the Okinawa Prefectural Government will cover 60 percent, Naha City 30 percent and Urasoe City 10 percent of the costs. The port authority will budget about 50 million yen for the basic design in FY 2013, of which 30 million yen is included in the Okinawa Prefectural Government’s supplementary budget in September. After creating the detailed design in FY 2014, the construction will start in FY 2015 and will be completed in three years in FY 2017.

The location for the center was designated in February as the International Logistics Hub Industrial Agglomeration Area Naha Port District. As a result, the companies moving in to the center will be able to receive preferential treatment such as corporate tax, custom duties and financial incentives leading to employment. The rent will be about 4,000 yen per month per 3.3 square meters.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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