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

During the meeting, debate took place on the designation of the National Strategic Special Zones.

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

"Recently we heard from each local government regarding specific efforts utilizing National Strategic Special Zones and proposals for regulatory reforms. Each has noteworthy characteristics, and some should be polished a little more. However, it is a fact that we received groundbreaking proposals at the same time, and it is also a fact that the momentum to want to utilize them has emerged.
I believe it is extremely important to preserve this momentum. In that sense, I believe that the approach of making National Strategic Special Zones a breakthrough for regulatory reform was correct, and I would like to link this invigorated atmosphere to achieving results.
Based on these specific proposals, during the recent Davos Meeting I made a pledge to the world that the next two years will be a period of intensive reform, and toward that pledge, the Government must move ahead with reform of so-called vested interests concretely and swiftly.
Next month I will specify directions for specific regions and in each region.
At this Council on National Strategic Special Zones, I would like you to engage in regulatory reforms that are truly effective while coordinating fully with the Industrial Competitiveness Council and the Regulatory Reform Council, toward the revival of the Japanese economy."