Fukuoka Prefecture has presented an additional supplementary budget of approximately 74.6 billion yen to the Prefectural Assembly. This budget is aimed at tackling the challenges of rising prices and supporting businesses with wage increases. Of this total, about 4.78 billion yen is designated for subsidizing increased electricity and other costs for medical, welfare, and educational institutions. The budget also includes new initiatives, such as 252 million yen to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increase wages through business innovation and sales growth. Another 183 million yen is allocated to support SMEs in boosting productivity and wages by digitizing and optimizing production processes.
Additionally, the budget earmarks around 351 million yen for a pioneering project at the Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry General Testing Ground. This project, a first in the country, will establish AI-based research and development facilities to develop rice varieties resilient to high temperatures and diseases, addressing climate change challenges. This supplementary budget comes on top of an earlier budget of approximately 12.5 billion yen for this fiscal year, which included support for child-rearing households and facilities for sick child care. A combined vote on these budget proposals is scheduled for the 20th of this month. Source: Fukuoka Prefecture / NHK
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