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On June 4, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 34th meeting of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
During the meeting, the third report on regulatory reform promotion was finalized.
 
After receiving the report from Ms. Hiroko Ota, Chair of the Council, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, the Council finalized the compilation of the report, following the previous one in the end of last year. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of the members of this Council, including Chair Ota and Acting Chair Kanemaru, for the intensive discussions you have carried out.
 
We must quickly adapt to the rapid technological innovation we are seeing in the world, referred to by some as the ‘fourth industrial revolution,’ and close all so-called ‘governance gaps.’ The times demand us to execute bold regulatory reforms.
 
This report includes a number of highly in-depth proposals for reforming the forestry and fishery industries, aimed at promoting the active use of cutting-edge technology and improving the productivity in the agriculture, forestry, and fishery industries in one fell swoop.
 
Furthermore, the Council has presented various bold proposals in a wide range of fields toward Society 5.0, including regulatory reforms related to medication guidance aimed at the full-fledged expansion of online medical care.
 
In addition, concerning regulatory reforms related to broadcasting, it has also given many concrete proposals in just a short period of time, including the establishment of business models that transcend the boundaries of telecommunications and broadcasting, such as the promotion of simulcasting on the internet, and reforms to the management structure of local broadcasters.
 
Led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, I ask that you continue to advance comprehensive discussions about future-oriented broadcasting based on the valuable proposals that have been raised in this Council thus far and from the perspectives of innovation, global practices, and, most importantly, users.
 
Based on the report submitted today, we will prepare a regulatory reform action plan immediately, and implement the proposed reforms at the earliest possible timing. I ask for the continuing cooperation of everyone in this Council towards bold regulatory reforms.
 
Regulatory reforms are the main driver of Abenomics. The Abe Cabinet will continue to work as one and exert every effort to achieve these reforms.”