Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on issues such as the "energy strategy from the perspective of economic and fiscal policies," "realization of the revitalization of regional communities," and the "progress of the 'Emergency Economic Measures for the Revitalization of the Japanese Economy'."

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"Regarding energy, we would like to take every measure for the supply of energy to fulfill the demand this summer, so as to ensure economic recovery. Securing low-cost and stable energy is the indispensable precondition for Japan to ensure industrial competitiveness and to realize the decade of recovery. Therefore, I would like to ask Minister Motegi to continuously carry forth efforts for the establishment of responsible energy policy, through coordination with relevant ministers.

There will be no revitalization of the Japanese economy without the revitalization of regional economy. We will be putting efforts into revitalizing regional economy so that the movement towards economic recovery can also be felt in regional communities. I would like to ask Minister Amari to carefully hear about the actual situation of regional economy from regional economic organizations and others, and take thorough response measures.

As for the revitalization of regional community, lively discussions on relevant issues are also taking place within the ruling parties and in the Industrial Competitiveness Council. Based on such discussions as well, I would like the relevant ministers to once again make a report to this Council. Especially, I would like to ask for cooperation in the consideration of specific expansion measures by Minister Shindo on the further promotion of decentralization and the reinforcement and improvement of the system of special zones, and by Minister Shindo, Minister Ota and Minister Motegi on reinforcing the incorporation of wisdom and funds from the private sector in the area of urban reconstruction.

For Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda, the new Governor of the Bank of Japan, today is the first meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. I would like to expect Mr. Kuroda to utilize the occasion of the Council to establish a further close relationship between the government and the Bank of Japan. I would also like to expect steady maneuvering towards achieving the price stability goal of 2%.
With regard to the progress management of the emergency economic measures, almost all projects were started in about one month from the passing of the supplementary budget. For more than 40 projects, contracts are already being concluded and the actual works are starting. The second of the 'three prongs' is now about to get smoothly on track. I would like to ask for further efforts with each minister taking responsibility."