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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the first meeting of the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, following the election of a meeting Chair, acting Chair, and others, and an explanation by the Secretariat of the breakout meetings on administrative procedures and the establishment of the working groups, there was an exchange of opinions on future discussions.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Today we have launched the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council.

We will aim to create an economy with a GDP of 600 trillion yen, thoroughly pursue reforms of vested interests, and enable the creation of attractive businesses that can make innovation possible ahead of the rest of the world.

We will make administrative services easier to use. With the viewpoint of a business operator, we will undertake regulatory reform. We will also advance the simplification and greater use of IT in regulatory reforms and administrative procedures in a unified manner.

I hope that under the leadership of Minister Yamamoto, who is also in charge of regional vitalization, there will be great success in developing the full potential of the regions to the rest of the world.

In particular, we are accelerating efforts toward the realization of ‘agriculture on the offensive’ which is a top priority of the Abe administration. According to recent numbers, more than 20,000 people aged 40 and under have now taken up new employment in the agricultural sector, the highest number in eight years. Indeed, I believe young people have truly begun to believe that they can pioneer new horizons through their passion and hard work. The provision of government support for the agricultural sector alone will not make young people enter the agricultural sector. If young people truly think that this is a field in which they can pioneer their own futures by themselves, those types of people will start to work in the field. That is what I think. 

We will continue work to make it possible for the agricultural sector and related industries to play an active part globally. To that end, we will heighten the international competitiveness of our production materials and food manufacturers, and develop efficient distribution structures that can accurately respond to the needs of consumers.

This autumn, we will reconsider without prejudice the state of related industries and Japan Agricultural Co-operatives, and discuss concrete measures in relation to fundamental reforms for raw milk, as well as production materials and processing and distribution structures.

I would like each Council member to frankly share your views, offer proposals, and act as an engine for the promotion of regulatory reform. We will firmly accelerate regulatory reforms in this Council. I will take the responsibility for ensuring that.”