Okinawan economic organizations come together to call for aid for business owners from Governor Tamaki amid coronavirus pandemic

Okinawan economic organizations come together to call for aid for business owners from Governor Tamaki amid coronavirus pandemic

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki (front row, 5th from the right) receiving a written request for emergency economic measures related to the corona virus from the Committee of Okinawan Economic Organizations chair Denichiro Ishimine (4th from the right) – March 31, at the Harbor View Hotel in Naha


March 31, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Representatives from 12 economic organizations in Okinawa gathered at the Okinawa Harbor View Hotel in Naha March 31 for a Committee of Okinawan Economic Organizations meeting (Denichiro Ishimine, chair), where they asked Governor Denny Tamaki to enact emergency measures in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The written request asked for the following:
1.　Increase protection measures at ports and airports, and to secure a stable supply of masks.

2.　Financial assistance such as expanding the loan interest subsidy to allow financial institutions to issue zero-interest loans, and establishing an assistance program to help business with fixed costs such as rent and payroll costs.

3.　An employment subsidy to aid small businesses who would otherwise be paying out of pocket

4.　To take bold economic recovery measures after the situation has subsided in conjunction with the Japanese government’s policies such as gift certificates and shopping events, an increase in public works, and the securing and expansion of flight paths.

Committee chair Ishimine warned that the decrease in tourism demand and the suspension of events has affected not only tourism-industry businesses but the Okinawan economy as a whole, saying, “This has created an extremely harsh business environment in particular for small and medium-size businesses, the screaming voices of these businesses’ continuity being threatened is getting closer.” He called on the governor to make sure of policies to support business continuity and employment preservation as well as policies to revitalize the economy after the outbreak has passed.

Governor Tamaki said in response, “Our entire office is engaged in stopping the spread of this disease. This has had a major effect on small and medium businesses, which make up the majority of businesses in Okinawa. I want to continue pursuing policies that allow these businesses to continue seamlessly.”
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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