Targeting to help revive an economy struggling with persistent deflation and a rising yen by creating jobs through green and other potential growth industries, Japan has injected $6.4 billion on 153 low-carbon projects across the country over the next 15 months, using government subsidies as seed money and ranging from production of low-emitting cars, lithium-ion batteries, LED lighting and solar panels to energy-saving electrical appliances.
 
It’s said that the subsidies to be paid from now until March 2012 are up to 15 billion yen per project or up to a third of planned capital spending. But 142 companies, including two foreign firms, have decided to add their own money, with their total investment in the 153 projects seen at some 530 billion yen ($6.4 billion).

Fuji Electric Holding, Toda Kogyo Corp, Toshiba Corp, Sharp Corp and Panasonic Corp. carry out the 153 projects.