[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 13th meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, discussions were held on recovery and reconstruction operations for FY2016 and thereafter.

Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

“At our meeting in March, I instructed you to thoroughly formulate the future reconstruction support framework, under the leadership of the Minister for Reconstruction. Subsequently, taking into consideration the proposal I received from the ruling parties, and our exchanges of views with local governments in the affected areas, we have just approved the recovery and reconstruction operations for FY2016 and thereafter.

The reconstruction efforts for FY2016 and thereafter have been named the ‘reconstruction and revitalization period.’ This is based on our intention during this new stage to ensure that our efforts lead to the reestablishment of the independence of the affected areas, and to create models for regional revitalization.   

Furthermore, the scale of operations in this five-year period is expected to reach 6.5 trillion yen, and we have thoroughly secured the necessary funding for this.

While we will ask local governments to bear part of the burden for some of the operations, we will give all due consideration to the financial condition of each local government. I would like each local government in the affected areas to advance reconstruction without the need for anxiety.

We have already completed the transfer of 4,000 homes to areas of high elevation and the construction of 10,000 public housing units. 80% of fishery product processing facilities have resumed operations, while growing crops has become possible in more than 70% of the agricultural areas affected by the disaster. We will exert our best efforts to support the emotional well-being of long-term evacuees, and also respond to other issues such as the full restoration of shopping areas. 

I would like to devote great efforts to the building of a ‘new Tohoku’ by combining the strengths of the relevant municipalities, residents, companies, and NPOs.   

Based on this framework, I would like each cabinet member to continue to exert your best efforts to further accelerate reconstruction, with the mindset that you are all effectively ministers for reconstruction. Thank you.”