Chapter IV Advanced Equipment Introduction by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

①A municipality (including a special ward; the same applies hereinafter) may, based on the basic policy, prepare a basic plan concerning the promotion of the introduction of advanced equipment, etc. (hereinafter referred to as an "introduction promotion basic plan"), consult with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and seek that Minister's consent.

②An introduction promotion basic plan is to provide for the following matters:

③The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is to give consent to an introduction promotion basic plan if the Minister finds that it falls under all of the following items:

④When a municipality has obtained the consent referred to in the preceding paragraph for an introduction promotion basic plan, it must publicize the plan without delay.

①When a municipality intends to change an introduction promotion basic plan for which it has obtained consent under paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, it must consult with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and obtain that Minister's consent.

②If the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry finds that a municipality is not implementing the promotion of the introduction of advanced equipment, etc. in accordance with an introduction promotion basic plan for which it has obtained consent under paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (where consent to a change has been given under the preceding paragraph, the plan as changed; hereinafter referred to as an "agreed introduction promotion basic plan"), the Minister may rescind that consent.

③If the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry finds that an agreed introduction promotion basic plan has come to fall under any of the items of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article without satisfying them, the Minister may instruct the municipality that prepared the agreed introduction promotion basic plan to change it, or may rescind the consent.

④When the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has rescinded the agreement under paragraph (3) of the preceding Article pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs, the minister is to make public that fact.

⑤The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to a change of an introduction promotion basic plan under paragraph (1).

①In order to contribute to the preparation of introduction promotion basic plans by municipalities and the achievement of agreed introduction promotion basic plans, the national government is to endeavor to collect, organize, analyze and provide information on regional economic trends and information necessary for promoting the introduction of advanced equipment, etc. by the relevant municipality, and to provide means that make it possible to collect, organize and analyze that information.

②The national government is to give a municipality concerned with an agreed introduction promotion basic plan the advice necessary for the smooth and reliable implementation of that agreed introduction promotion basic plan.

①A small and medium-sized enterprise that intends to carry out the introduction of advanced equipment, etc. based on an agreed introduction promotion basic plan (hereinafter referred to as "advanced equipment introduction") may prepare a plan concerning the advanced equipment introduction it intends to carry out (hereinafter in this Article and the following Article referred to as an "advanced equipment introduction plan"), submit it, in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to the specified municipality (meaning a municipality that has prepared an agreed introduction promotion basic plan; the same applies hereinafter) having jurisdiction over the location of the advanced equipment, etc. to be introduced, and obtain its certification.

②In the case where two or more small and medium-sized enterprises intend to carry out advanced equipment introduction jointly, those two or more small and medium-sized enterprises may jointly prepare an advanced equipment introduction plan and obtain the certification under the preceding paragraph.

③The following matters must be stated in an advanced equipment introduction plan.

④Where an application for the certification under paragraph (1) is filed, the specified municipality is to grant the certification if it finds that the advanced equipment introduction plan conforms to all of the following items.

⑤When a specified municipality has granted the certification under paragraph (1), it must notify the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of that fact without delay.

①A small and medium-sized enterprise that has obtained the certification under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as a "certified advanced equipment introduction business operator") must, when intending to change the advanced equipment introduction plan pertaining to that certification, obtain certification from the specified municipality that granted that certification, in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

②If a specified municipality finds that a certified advanced equipment introduction business operator is not carrying out advanced equipment introduction in accordance with the advanced equipment introduction plan pertaining to that certification (where certification of a change has been granted under the preceding paragraph, the plan as changed; hereinafter referred to as a "certified advanced equipment introduction plan"), it may rescind that certification.

③If a specified municipality finds that a certified advanced equipment introduction plan has ceased to conform to any of the items of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, it may rescind the certification.

④When a specified municipality has rescinded the certification under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs, it is to notify the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of that fact.

⑤The provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the certification under paragraph (1).

②With regard to the application of Article 3, paragraph (2) and Article 5 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Credit Insurance Act to an insurance relation of ordinary insurance that pertains to an advanced equipment introduction-related guarantee, the phrase "70 percent" in that paragraph, and the phrase "70 percent (80 percent in the case of unsecured insurance, special small-amount insurance, current asset collateral insurance, pollution prevention insurance, energy measures insurance, overseas investment insurance, new business development insurance, business revitalization insurance and specified bond insurance)" in that Article, are deemed to be replaced with "80 percent".

③The amount of the premium for an insurance relation of ordinary insurance, unsecured insurance or special small-amount insurance that pertains to an advanced equipment introduction-related guarantee is, notwithstanding Article 4 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Credit Insurance Act, the amount obtained by multiplying the insured amount by the rate specified by Cabinet Order within 2 percent per year.