History

During the post-war period where Japan's economy experienced steep economic growth, the country's industrial structure shifted from heavy industry to processing and assembly industry, and the main energy source from coal to oil. As this occurred, Kyushu's economy started to fall behind, resulting in a larger income gap with major metropolitan areas, and consequently a massive outflow of population. There was a deep concern that Kyushu might be left behind by the rest of Japan, and a sense of crisis that unorganized efforts by individual companies alone would not be enough to develop Kyushu. This prompted the business communities in Kyushu and Yamaguchi to come together, and the Kyushu Economic Federation was established in April 1961. Since its founding, KEF has made steady achievements in the development of infrastructure, the advancement of industries in Kyushu, and the promotion of international exchanges. While continuing to make progress in these and other issues, the current focus is on decentralization reform.

Achievements

Public-Private Partnership

1961	Made a joint statement with the Kyushu Regional Governors' Association (mutual cooperation in specific promotion of economic development).
1985	Started the "Exchange of Opinions with the Kyushu Regional Governors' Association" (regular meetings between prefectural governors and the Kyushu Economic Federation).
2003	Established the Kyushu Regional Strategy Council (to formulate and implement Kyushu's own development strategy).
2005	Established the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization.
2008	Developed the "Doshu Kyushu Model". (An administrative reform proposal, involving integration of prefectures into 7 to 10 states)
2011	Formulated the "Kyushu Model for a Low Carbon Society".
2015	Formulated the "Renewable Energy Action Plan".
2015	Formulated the "Kyushu Creation Action Plan".
2017	Formulated the "Second Kyushu Tourism Strategy".

Promotion of Academics and Culture

1963	Proposed the creation of the National University of Arts and Design (tentative name).
1968	The Kyushu Institute of Design was established
1992	The Kyushu National Museum Establishment Promotion Foundation was established.
2005	The Kyushu National Museum opened.

Attracting Automobile Industries

1967	The Kyushu Automobile Industry Study Group was established, which presented the possibility of the Kyushu region as a location for the automobile industry, and requested each automobile industry company to expand into Kyushu.
1975	Nissan Motor Kyushu Plant started operation.
1976	Honda Motor Kumamoto Plant started operation.
1992	Toyota Motor Kyushu Miyata Plant started operation.
2004	Daihatsu Kyushu Oita (Nakatsu) Plant started operation.

Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development in the Region

Expressways

1968	"Opinions on the National Comprehensive Development Plan" was announced (requesting the establishment of a high-speed transportation system).
1971	The first expressway in Kyushu opened (between Ueki and Kumamoto).
1988	The Kyushu Longitudinal Expressway was completed.
1996	The Trans-Kyushu Expressway was completed.
2016	The East Kyushu Expressway (Kitakyushu to Miyazaki) opened.

Kyushu Shinkansen, West Kyushu Shinkansen

1988	The "Kyushu Shinkansen Construction Promotion Study Group" was established to conduct surveys and research on the development of Shinkansen.
1991	Construction of the Shin-Yatsushiro - Kagoshima-Chuo line began in 1991, and opened in 2004.
2011	The Hakata - Shin-Yatsushiro route opened.
2022	The Nagasaki - Takeo onsen route opened.

The Globalization Age

1991	The Kyushu-China Industrial Technology Council was formed. (Meets annually)
1993	The Kyushu-Korea Economic Exchange Council was formed. (Meets annually)
2001	Established“The Yellow Sea Rim Economic and Technological Conference”(regularly held every year by Kyushu, China and South Korea on a rotation basis).
2009	Our first MOU(memorandum of understanding on economic exchanges) was concluded with an agency of Vietnamese government(since then we have concluded 14 MOUs in 11 countries and regions in Asia).

The Decentralization Age

2002	Proposed “Kyushu Area Strategies for the 21st Century.”
2003	The Kyushu Area Strategy Council was formed. (Kyushu Governors' Association + 4 local business organizations)
2005	The Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization was formed. (Kyushu's 7 prefectures + local business communities)
2008	Devised a “Kyushu model for the regional system.”
2015	Kyushu Agricultural and Marine Products Co. Ltd. was established to develop marketing to Asia as a new target for Kyushu’s primary industries. The company began exporting agricultural products from Kyushu to Hong Kong in 2015, and later expanded its sales channels to Singapore and Taiwan.
2021	The "Kyushu Future Vision 2030" was formulated.