Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fourth meeting of the Headquarters for Japan's Economic Revitalization at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the promotion of the growth strategy.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said in his address,

"I held a Japan-U.S. summit meeting with President Obama last weekend. Regarding the economic policy, I explained the "three prongs," which President Obama welcomed, and he expressed his expectations for strong leadership. Thus, we shared the recognition that the revival of the Japanese economy is meaningful for the world.
Through this meeting, it became clear that the elimination of tariffs with no sanctuary is not a precondition for TPP. Based on the results of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, I would like to judge the best way in terms of national interests as early as possible as the Prime Minister.
Regarding the growth strategy, I would like to ask for prompt reactions by the relevant ministers regarding the policy issues discussed in the second meeting of the Industrial Competitiveness Council. In doing so, I would like to ask the minister to closely coordinate the way to carry forward each measure and the content thereof with Mr. Akira Amari, Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization, so as to effectively and consistently make progress with the growth strategy.
I would like to ask Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to cooperate with relevant ministers and work on specifying bold measures beyond the conventional ideas, for developing 'agriculture, forestry and fisheries in an aggressive style,' which will be attractive for young people as an area to work in, and will spread the agricultural products of Japan throughout the world.
I would also like to ask for efforts by not only considering the industrial aspect of agriculture, but also respecting its function to protect the beautiful homeland of Japan, and the acceleration of cooperation and business collaboration with a wide variety of business types, such as with the distribution, IT or financial industries.
Regarding the measures to reduce energy cost, in order for the entire government to work together on carrying forth the reform of the electric power system, after a Cabinet decision is made on the policy of the reform, I would like to ask Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, to promptly compile bills with an aim to be submitted to this session of the Diet.
As for the function of the Council for Science and Technology Policy as the control tower, I would like to ask Mr. Ichita Yamamoto, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, to specify measures to fundamentally reinforce the Council, including its position, so that the Council becomes able to exert a strong driving power at an unprecedented level in terms of both authority and budget, in order to eliminate the vertically segmented bureaucracy in offices and ministries.
I would like the relevant ministers to cooperate with Minister Amari considering his proposal of the international development strategy made today.
In the future, we will be holding thematic meetings among the private-sector members and relevant ministers under the Industrial Competitiveness Council, and I expect cooperation from relevant ministers. In addition, we will be holding the meeting of the Industrial Competitiveness Council in the evening, and after explaining the results of the visit to the United States, we would like to hear the opinions also from the private-sector members on TPP."