Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with managers of small- and medium-sized enterprises for realizing a "positive cycle of the economy" at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"We believe it is the responsibility of those in politics to implement the 'three arrows' to first improve the macro economy and create an environment in which business managers can make full use of their abilities. In this context, despite facing truly challenging circumstances, you have each introduced wage increases based on your determination to work hard and believe in the abilities of your employees. A number of you have even introduced wage increases that exceed the price stability target, and I am very grateful for your efforts.
Your motivation will no doubt have sweeping effects throughout the country, and will be a major trigger for the 'positive cycle of the economy.' However, it is also true that there are some people who believe the economic recovery has yet to be felt outside leading export companies and certain regions. I believe it is our mission to ensure that those working at SMEs and at small-scale enterprises, as well as people all across the regions, experience the economic recovery firsthand as quickly as possible.
To do this, it is decisively important that a positive cycle of profit increases and wage increases is realized at SMEs and small-scale enterprises, which account for two-thirds of employment in Japan.
The Government for its part will make every effort to implement support measures, including manufacturing subsidies and expanding the taxation system to encourage capital investment. In addition, the Government has been utilizing the Government-Labor-Management Meetings to make requests to the business community, including wage increases and better terms of business with relevant SMEs. According to the Bank of Japan's Tankan (Short-term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan), which was released today, the business conditions of SMEs, including the non-manufacturing industry, have turned from negative to positive for the first time in 21 years. Under these circumstances, you have explained today that you have acted quickly to increase wages in order to secure and foster human resources. I was able to hear firsthand the ambitions of SMEs. I believe your sentiments can be communicated to the entire country. While taking seriously the items you have shared with us and the tasks you have given us today, we will work to create a climate that will encourage the emergence of many more managers like yourselves."