PHOTO
FILE PHOTO: Holograms, which show different images and colours depending on the angle at which they are viewed, are seen on the new Japanese 10,000 yen banknote as the new note is displayed at a currency museum of the Bank of Japan, on the day the new notes of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen went into circulation, in Tokyo, Japan July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool/File Photo
Japan's government will propose a $65 billion plan to boost its chip industry with subsidies and other financial assistance over a period of "multiple years", a draft seen on Monday by Reuters showed.
The plan, with financial support worth 10 trillion yen ($65.10 billion) or more, comes as countries look to strengthen their control over chip supply chains after global shocks including trade tensions between the United States and China.
Japan's government intends to submit the plan, including bills to financially help mass production of next-generation chips, to the next parliament session, the draft shows.
It specifically targets chip foundry venture Rapidus and other suppliers of chips for artificial intelligence.
Rapidus is headed by industry veterans and is targeting mass production of cutting-edge chips on the northern island of Hokkaido from 2027 in partnership with IBM and Belgium-based research organisation Imec.
Last year, the Japanese government said it would allocate some 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) to support its chip industry.
The latest plan is part of the government's comprehensive economic package to be approved by cabinet on Nov. 22 and will also call for a total of 50 trillion yen public and private sectors investment in chips over the next 10 years.
The government expects the economic impact to total around 160 trillion yen, according to the draft. ($1 = 153.6000 yen)
(Reporting by Takaya Yamaguchi; Writing by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Alexander Smith)