[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 30th meeting of the Council on National Strategic Special Zones at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, debate took place on certifying the special zone plan, an evaluation of the National Strategic Special Zones, matters pertaining to National Strategic Special Zones contained in the 2017 Japan Revitalization Strategy (provisional title), and other matters.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"Today, we heard about the results of the evaluation of projects carried out last fiscal year within each National Strategic Special Zone.
While each region has made certain achievements, a leading example being the ownership of farmlands by companies in Yabu City, there are significant disparities among the regions in the application of regulatory reforms and the content of proposals.
I hope that the regions where little progress has been made on the application of reforms will make use of the merits of being a Special Zone, feeling a sense of urgency that it may otherwise be difficult to retain their Special Zone status.

Special Zone reforms such as the establishment of daycares in urban parks are being implemented across the country. This is a good example of an achievement in a Special Zone that has had an immediate impact on regions outside of the Special Zone as well. It is important that, first and foremost, we quickly build up a track record of success in the Special Zones. 
Within the Growth Strategy to be approved next month, we will incorporate bold regulatory reform items that make use of the National Strategic Special Zones, such as a regulatory sandbox system to support trials of autonomous driving and use of drones, and we will work to achieve these reforms as soon as possible.

I would like to ask Minister Kozo Yamamoto and private sector experts, together with relevant ministries and agencies, to accelerate reviews of the exact design of this sandbox system so that we can become the first in the world to realize Society 5.0.
With regard to the fourth round of designations of National Strategic Special Zones by the end of the year, we will proactively consider including areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in the designations. We will support people who have evacuated in the wake of natural disasters and have subsequently returned to their hometowns and are trying to rebuild their lives, as well as encourage further innovation."