Naoto Kan's political roots may lie in socialist activism, but that is not stopping Japan's new prime minister from enthusiastically embracing a new role as salesman for some of his nation's biggest businesses.

As part of a drive to shore up growth in what is still the world's second-largest economy, Mr Kan and his ruling Democratic party have pledged dramatically to increase the role of -government in promoting Japanese companies' interests overseas, a mission the premier has described as a re-creation of “Japan Inc”.

The prime minister and other cabinet members in the DPJ-led administration will play a leading role in marketing Japanese infrastructure providers abroad, as first promised in a party manifesto issued before last month's Diet upper house elections.