Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� September, 2002

Second Meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform Friday, September 20, 2002 The second meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, a decision was made on a basic policy regarding special zones for structural reform in order to promote structural reform in specific areas on the initiatives of local communities through establishing exceptions to regulations which fit to local characteristics. As a policy device to promote special zones for structural reform, this basic policy emphasizes revitalization through the competition of ideas and innovation and a spirit of self help and self reliance at the local governments and the private sector, and proposes an integration of procedures and the decision-making process at the Cabinet. In his address, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi touched upon the more than 426 concepts that have been proposed from local governments and others, stating, "This kind of response demonstrates the enthusiasm of the local governments and the private sector to try and achieve structural reform by their own efforts. Special zones for structural reform will prove to be a breakthrough in accelerating a further shift from the public to the private sector and from the central to local governments in the structural reforms of the Koizumi Cabinet." The formulation of a promotion program aimed at realizing special zones for structural reform is scheduled for early October.