Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fourth meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, and the second joint meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the Industrial Competitiveness Council of 2014, at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussions took place on "strategic challenges (globalization within Japan)" and "achieving fiscal soundness."

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

"We must rigorously push forward with globalization within Japan in order to attract the necessary human resources, capital and technologies from around the world to aid Japan’s growth.

Together with infrastructure exports, foreign direct investment (FDI) to Japan is also of great importance to the Abe administration’s growth strategy.

For this purpose, I will establish the Conference on Promoting Direct Investment into Japan to serve as a control tower. In addition to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japanese embassies overseas will make united efforts to identify FDI opportunities in Japan for foreign companies and to solicit feedback from the managers of such companies. I would like Minister Amari to lead efforts among the relevant ministers and councils to carry out the necessary institutional reforms.

Making the most of my overseas visits I, too, will make proactive efforts at the highest level, by, for instance, promoting FDI into Japan among the local companies, members of the local business community, and other relevant parties. I would like to ask the relevant Cabinet members to do the same. 

At the same time, we will need to welcome talented professionals, as well as actively utilize other foreign human resources, such as international students. 

I would like Minister of Justice Tanigaki to lead efforts to fundamentally strengthen and improve oversight and administration of government-sponsored training programs, with the assistance of the relevant Cabinet members. In addition, I would also like necessary reviews to be carried out for training periods, eligible sectors, and other such matters.

In particular, Japan will need to utilize skilled foreign construction workers in order to supplement the current shortfall in construction workers in the run up to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Based on the decision made in today’s Cabinet Meeting, I would like to ask relevant Cabinet members to give shape to the new systems and programs.

Based on today’s discussions, I would like you to advance deliberations on measures to promote the greater utilization of foreign human resources under an appropriate oversight system, for the sake of promoting the active participation of women and Japan’s medium-to-long-term economic growth, while also taking care to avoid this being mistaken as an immigration policy. As part of your efforts, I would like to ask that you also include the possible use of the National Strategic Special Zones in your discussions."