Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first meeting of the Regulatory Reform Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Regulatory Reform Council is a council to respond to the consultation of the Prime Minister from the perspective of promoting measures on basic and important policies related to economy, to comprehensively research and examine the basic items on the reform on how the necessary regulation should be for carrying forth the structural reform of economy and society, and to give opinions to the Prime Minister on relevant items.

The Prime Minister said in his address as follows, and then consulted Mr. Motoyuki Oka, the Chair.

"Regulatory reform is the top prioritized issue of the Abe Cabinet. It is also a top priority in the growth strategy.
The regulatory reform implemented by the former administration had rather been a regulatory reform for its own good. However, under the Abe administration, the purpose of the regulatory reform is clear. It is a regulatory reform for revitalizing the economy. It also aims to achieve economic growth through regulatory reform, and create employment. I expect that these purposes are set forth clearly.
It is scheduled for the Industrial Competitiveness Council to set strategic goals based on people's needs in some prioritized areas. For example, by realizing a society responding to the people's needs of living a healthy, long life, and by internationally expanding such society, we will aim to develop the Japanese economy.
I would like the Regulatory Reform Council to focus its effort in realizing regulatory reform in order to achieve such strategic goals.
I am aiming for creating a country that provides the most attractive environment for activities in such prioritized areas by people in the private sector, and I ask for your cooperation.
What we aim for becoming is number one in the world.
I expect the members of the council to have substantial discussions, by returning to how we are supposed to be. I would like to ask for your cooperation."