Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the first meeting of the Council on National Strategic Special Zones at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, debate took place on the future direction of discussion and other matters regarding National Strategic Special Zones.

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

"The National Strategic Special Zone will be a breakthrough for regulatory reform, the utmost priority of the Abe administration's growth strategy.
The regulatory reforms that have been made possible by the recent law include items like the lifting of the prohibition on the private management of public schools or the clarification of employment rules, which had not been worked on at all for the past number of years - in some cases ten years or more - as well as items like the alleviation of hospital bed regulations and reconsideration of agricultural commissions, regarding which debate was held and Cabinet decisions were made but absolutely no measures were put into place after that.
Nevertheless, if these regulatory reforms are not actually executed, they will end up as merely wishful thinking.
These reforms will begin to take a visible shape once specific regions are selected and the three institutions of the national government, local governments, and the private sector come together as one in each region to create operational plans.
With how much of a sense of speed can we advance the process, and with what kind of ability to execute policies? This will be asked of us.
This is not just about domestic reforms. I aim to decide on specific regions in March and specify directions in each region toward the realization of the 'easiest country worldwide in which to do business' which will promote projects to attract investment and people from around the world to Japan.
At this Council on National Strategic Special Zones, I would like to advance discussion in a bold manner and with a sense of speed, including discussion on working out the details of proposals that have been made in the past, and laying them out."