[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the second meeting of the National Council for Promoting the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, statements were made from private-sector experts of the Council and relevant ministers with regard to the measures requiring urgent implementation and the basic approach to the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“I would like to extend my thanks to all of the private-sector experts of the Council for their proactive discussions today, following similar contributions in the previous meeting.

During the second stage of Abenomics, we will further build upon the economic policies from the first stage of the ‘three arrows’ as well as take full advantage of the growth achievements to date.

For example, over these last three years, tax revenues have increased 12 trillion yen and risen beyond our forecasts, performing better than expected. These gains in tax revenues are not permanent sources of funds. But there are no permanent sources of revenue with the exception of the increase in the consumption tax revenue. Of course, these tax revenues must be used to repay debt, but I am also committed to utilizing the results gained from our economic policies to directly tackle the challenge of the structural issue of our declining birthrate and aging society, which has been a concern for many years.

Once the lives of the people become more secure through the second and third arrows, consumption and investment will increase, as will the number of tax payers, and in turn the first arrow will become even more powerful. As a result, further results will be produced that can then be redirected at the second and third arrows. This positive cycle will be created in a society in which all one hundred million-plus citizens are each dynamically engaged. In other words we must create an economic system where everyone can participate.

In terms of the urgent measures the Council will compile by the end of this month, I would like to place emphasis on policies directly related to attaining the two targets of realizing the desired birthrate of 1.8 children per woman and reducing the number of people who leave employment to provide nursing care to zero. The point is that when we create these ambitious targets, a number of budget reports will come out about this and that, causing the focal point to blur. We must use our limited resources effectively.
In the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens, which should be completed next spring, I would like us to define a clear path aimed at realizing a society in which all one hundred million-plus citizens are each dynamically engaged from an even broader perspective.

Based on the views and recommendations shared at this meeting, I would like to ask Minister Kato to divide his attention and focus both on measures requiring urgent implementation as well as measures under the Plan to Realize the Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens.

I ask that urgent measures be finalized as quickly as possible while cooperating with Minister Amari to ensure a powerful step is taken toward realizing a society in which all one hundred million-plus citizens are each dynamically engaged.