Fukuoka Net shop in English

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) The Fukuoka Prefectural Government has launched an English-language Internet shopping site to help open up the overseas market for small and midsize local companies.

The site, named Value of Fukuoka Japan, is the first set up by a local government to promote products of local businesses for overseas consumers. It will be expanded in November to add versions in Chinese and Korean, the prefecture said.

The measure is aimed at paving the way for local companies struggling under the slump in domestic demand to enter the global market, Fukuoka Gov. Wataru Aso said.

Instead of opening and managing their own Web sites, companies can use the public-sector site and get support in making settlement and delivering products. The site charges firms a 10 percent sales charge during fiscal 2009 through March, plus ¥20,000 in annual fees from fiscal 2010.

Twenty companies are initially posting information on about 100 items in seven product areas, such as crafts and living ware. The lineup is planned to increase with such products as traditional Hakata dolls being considered, prefectural officials said.

In a related development, major Chinese business-to-business e-commerce site Alibaba has opened a section on Fukuoka with 16 local businesses advertising about 50 products.