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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 24th meeting of the Management Council for Infrastructure Strategy held at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on the “Fourth Follow-up on the Export Strategy for Infrastructure Systems.”

In his opening address, the Prime Minister said,

“The promotion of the export of Japan’s high quality infrastructure to meet expanding global infrastructure needs is crucial to Japan’s economic growth, and helps to construct win-win relationships that contribute to the economic development of partner countries.

Over the past three years, I have given my best sales pitches to the leaders of many countries, and the Government as a whole has worked as a single entity to advance this initiative, to promote the export of infrastructure. In 2014, the total orders for Japanese infrastructure were worth approximately 19 trillion yen and we are seeing steady progress toward the infrastructure system sales target of approximately 30 trillion yen by 2020.

High-quality infrastructure will be a major point of discussion during the Ise-Shima Summit. As the Chair, I want to announce an initiative to expand the export of high-quality infrastructure as a means of calling on other G7 leaders to undertake active projects for the construction of high-quality infrastructure.

This initiative will be organized around three pillars. First, we will expand the target of our efforts from Asia, which we have focused on up until now, to the world as a whole, with the aim of providing approximately 200 billion dollars in funding over the next five years for infrastructure projects.

Projects will be carried out by relevant organizations across Japan, such as the newly created JOIN (Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development) and JICT (Fund Corporation for the Overseas Development of Japan’s ICT and Postal Services), in a wide range of infrastructure areas, including resources and energy.

Second, we will work to improve relevant systems and operations in order to further accelerate ODA loan procedures and stimulate investments and lending by private corporations.

Third, we will work to strengthen systems and secure the financial foundations of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), NEXI (Nippon Export and Investment Insurance), JOGMEC (Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) and other relevant organizations.

Looking ahead, TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) is scheduled to be held for the first time in Africa this August, and the East Asia Summit, which gathers many countries, regions, and other actors such as ASEAN, will be held in September.

Working from the results and the opportunity of the Ise-Shima Summit, I want the relevant ministers to make use of the initiative to expand the export of high-quality infrastructure to promote further understanding of Japan’s infrastructure strategy among other countries. I want you to closely collaborate to deliver results, and for the entire Government as a whole to work together on this issue.”