The Japanese government unveiled on Friday an economic package to help businesses and individuals that it said was worth about 11.7 trillion yen ($107 billion).

The figure included 9.1 trillion yen to help businesses and
individuals cope with high prices and to promote economic growth through steps such as government guarantees on loans to small firms.

It said in a statement the package would include spending in the budget for fiscal 2009/10, starting next April 1.

'Global rises in oil and food prices are having a significant impact on the Japanese public,' prime minister Yasuo Fukuda told cabinet ministers and others from the ruling oalition who signed off on the measures.-Reuters