The Japanese government announced on April 7th, 2020, an unprecedented emergency economic stimulus plan totalling USD 993bn (JPY 108.2tn) aimed at remedying the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Japanese economy.

One portion of this package was a fund of USD 2bn (JPY 220bn) budgeted for such firms wishing to move their operations back to Japan.

The funding was provided to assist firms for whom supply chain issues arising from the COVID-19 outbreak were threatening their operations. Consistent media reports, as well as quotes from Japanese government officials, assert that the funding is primarily targeted towards moving such firms' operations out of China, due to the effects of the virus.

The funding will be available to Japanese firms, and has no limitation depending on the industrial sector in which the firm operates.