Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 12th meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and revitalization of regional communities, education rebuilding, a framework for realizing efficient and effective finances, and the progress of the 'Emergency Economic Measures for the Revitalization of the Japanese Economy.'

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"I would like to thank the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy for moving swiftly to review the items which I have raised, namely, the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the vision of the promotion and development of Okinawa.
Council member Dr. Ito also serves as the Chair of both the Reconstruction Promotion Committee and the Okinawa Promotion Council. I would like to once again express my appreciation.
I would like to ask Minister Nemoto to continue to take steps for the realization of swift reconstruction. And I would like to ask Minister Yamamoto to take bold initiatives to see to it that new industries are launched in a tangible manner for the Okinawan people, with the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University playing a central role, as you have reported today.
Education rebuilding is a priority that is equally as crucial as economic revitalization.
I believe that a major goal of education rebuilding is ensuring opportunities to acquire the world's top-level academic abilities and normative consciousness.
To do this, it is important to set forth clear objectives, and on this basis, evaluate outcomes and reflect the objectives in the policy. It is also important to enhance the quality of education by drawing on the wisdom and ingenuity of those on the scene.
I would like to ask Minister Shimomura to continue to exert efforts to enhance the quality of and rebuild Japanese education.
For the establishment of a viable PDCA cycle, I would like to ask Minister Shindo and Minister Amari to immediately take steps to improve policy evaluation and create a PDCA scheme which incorporates the proposal made today by the Council members from the private sector.
I would like the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy to take up relevant areas which are particularly important and discuss them moving forward."