Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 15th meeting of the Headquarters for Japan's Economic Revitalization at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on “Emergency Economic Measures toward the Enhancement of the Positive Economic Cycle in Local Communities,” and “The Execution and Achievement of the Abenomics Growth Strategy.”

Based on the discussion in the meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“In the recent election, I declared to the people that ‘this election will test whether we press forward on Abenomics or bring it to a halt,’ and was able to gain very strong support. We will now even more boldly implement the three arrows of economic policy.

Today, we have decided upon emergency economic measures toward the enhancement of the positive economic cycle in local communities in order to respond to vulnerable sectors of the economy with a sense of urgency.

We will support measures by local governments in response to the situation of each community, such as the issuance of product coupons with premiums, and support to help those with low incomes purchase heating oil. In addition, we will also establish a low interest financing system for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggling with high raw-materials costs.

I want to work to shore up individual consumption, improve regional economies, and spread the positive economic cycle throughout Japan.

In addition, with regards to structural reforms, we will not retreat a single step, but continue to advance further. To that end, I want to submit bold growth strategy legislation to the coming ordinary session of the Diet that will include regulatory reforms in such fields as agriculture, employment, medical care, and energy.

I would like each minister to work with determination and resolve such that we do not retreat on the substance of the reforms nor cause it to become watered down.

There is no end to the Abe administration’s reforms. I ask that Minister Amari advance preparations for discussions toward the revision of the Growth Strategy within the middle of next year.”