Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 120th Annual General Meeting of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“We will restore Japan. I was elected into office 18 months ago making this promise to the people of Japan. Since then, I have consistently given top priority to economic revitalization. 
The dark and heavy air that had once shrouded Japan has been lifted by the ‘three arrows.’ The ratio of job offers to job seekers is the highest level in 22 years, since the burst of the economic bubble. This positive news is not only limited to urban areas. In 35 prefectures, the number of job offers exceeds the number of job seekers.
Furthermore, this spring the wage growth rate was at its highest figure in 15 years, and 65% of small- and medium-sized enterprises increased their wages. 
When the second Abe administration was first established, my economic policies were regarded as heretical. However, I firmly believe this is the only path forward.
Abenomics is finally set to enter its second chapter. However, this sense of economic recovery has yet to extend throughout all of Japan. Local communities continue to face a very severe reality today, including soaring fuel prices among other issues. Therefore, we will continue to prioritize the economy. We must ensure that the wave of economic recovery reaches every corner of Japan. Local communities are faced with a number of serious issues, including rapid decline and extreme aging of the population. We must ensure that every region provides its youth with dreams and ambitions for the future, access to sound jobs, and a community where they can raise a family and pass down an enriching lifestyle to the next generation. These are the type of appealing communities we must create.

When reshuffling the Cabinet, I established the Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan, which will aim to create affluent, bright and healthy communities, under my leadership and participation of all ministers.
The Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan will actively visit the front lines to hold dialogue with all the leaders of our communities, to better understand the special characteristics of each region and formulate initiatives for drawing out their needs and desires. On top of this, the headquarters will develop a whole new dimension of bold policy measures. We will never group all of Japan together collectively, as was the case in the past, and instead we will focus on the individual characteristics of each region. 
I would like all of you from local chambers of commerce and industry to take the lead in unique regional initiatives under the leadership of Chairman Mimura, and share your views frankly with the Government.
Even something that a rural community sees as routine has the hidden potential to be transformed into something that, with a little innovation, can be sold all across Japan. I would like all of Japan to know about such hometowns and their famous products.
I would like to prepare legislation that proactively supports the initiatives of local communities.
If you fail once, you lose everything. The practice of personal guarantees has stood in the way of making a second effort when you stumble. I believe that eliminating the practice of personal guarantees will help to create vital local communities. Therefore, in February 2014, the Government created new guidelines that allow businesses to take out loans without personal guarantees as long as personal and company assets are separated and managed appropriately. Over the last six months alone the Japan Finance Corporation and Shoko Chukin Bank have already executed around 20,000 loans.  
In this manner, the elimination of the personal guarantee barrier will enable those that failed once to use their experience to try again, which could very well lead to major success. I believe this holds particularly true for local communities. This will produce new jobs and business opportunities, and lead to the growth in those regions. I for one certainly know the critical importance of being given a second chance after failing once.
One of the greatest challenges venture companies in local communities face is establishing sales channels. We will create a mechanism for government procurement that gives priority to the products and services of small- and medium-sized venture enterprises less than 10 years old, offering negotiated contracts instead of requiring competitive bids for their products and services. 
If those of you in attendance today have aspirations for the future and confidently make strides towards your goals, Japan and its local communities will undoubtedly be able to regain their past glory.
I would like to conclude my remarks by offering my best wishes for the further development of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the chambers of commerce and industry across the country. I hope the discussions today will be fruitful. Let’s work together to restore Japan.