Unified Osaka prefecture would continue IR plans

An ordinance will be presented at the city’s council to unify the administration. It includes preparations for Osaka’s IR bid.

Japan.- The unification of the Osaka city and prefecture administrations will not affect plans to present a bid for an integrated resort (IR) licence.

An ordinance will be presented to the city’s council on January 22 to unify the governance of the Osaka area, eliminating the current dual administration.

The prefecture and the city administration have until April 1 to complete the change.

The ordinance covers preparations for Osaka’s IR bid, on which the prefecture and city have been working in unison.

The unified administration would continue to develop Osaka’s IR bid with the potential private partners, either MGM Resorts or Orix.

The administration is preparing to restart its request-for-proposal (RFP) process to determine which private partner it will select.

Osaka’s IR will be located on Yumeshima Island. The new ordinance will give the region’s unified administration the authority for infrastructure projects including the redevelopment of JR Osaka Station North, the Naniwasuji Line and the Yodogawa Left Bank Extension, which will act as the access point to Yumeshima Island.