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The Prime Minister in Action
Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties
December 19, 2017
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (2)
On December 19, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the meeting, there was discussion on the budget for FY2018 and the FY2017 supplementary budget.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“Today we have compiled the budget for FY2018 and the FY2017 supplementary budget. The adjustments were made in a short time following on from the recent new economic policy package, and I would like to thank everyone in the ruling parties for all your efforts.
In next fiscal year’s budget, we will advance the revolution in human resources development such as by expanding childcare capacity and expanding the eligibility for fund-type scholarships. In order to realize the productivity revolution, we will powerfully promote corporate investment in equipment and human resources, as well as innovation toward achieving Society 5.0. In conjunction, through prioritization of growth sectors such as tourism, infrastructure development, and the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries, we will aim to achieve a GDP of 600 trillion yen. At the same time, we will control increases in general expenditure and social security costs by building up reform efforts such as fundamental reform of the drug pricing system and efforts to reduce government expenditures. Next year’s budget is one that achieves both economic revitalization and greater fiscal soundness, and in addition to the forecasted tax revenue of 59.1 trillion yen, which would be the highest level in the 27 years since FY1991, it will reduce the amount of the issue of government bonds for the sixth successive year since the establishment of the Abe Cabinet.
Further, in the supplementary budget, in addition to supplementary fiscal demand such as disaster response, we will swiftly work on the revolutions in human resources development and productivity, the strengthening of the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries in preparation for trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and other matters.
In the first Diet session of the new year, we intend to enact both this fiscal year’s supplementary budget and next fiscal year’s budget as quickly as possible, and take strong steps forward toward overcoming our greatest challenge of the declining birthrate and aging population, and ensure a firm growth trajectory of the economy. I would like to request the continued cooperation of everyone in the ruling parties.”
At the meeting, there was discussion on the budget for FY2018 and the FY2017 supplementary budget.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“Today we have compiled the budget for FY2018 and the FY2017 supplementary budget. The adjustments were made in a short time following on from the recent new economic policy package, and I would like to thank everyone in the ruling parties for all your efforts.
In next fiscal year’s budget, we will advance the revolution in human resources development such as by expanding childcare capacity and expanding the eligibility for fund-type scholarships. In order to realize the productivity revolution, we will powerfully promote corporate investment in equipment and human resources, as well as innovation toward achieving Society 5.0. In conjunction, through prioritization of growth sectors such as tourism, infrastructure development, and the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries, we will aim to achieve a GDP of 600 trillion yen. At the same time, we will control increases in general expenditure and social security costs by building up reform efforts such as fundamental reform of the drug pricing system and efforts to reduce government expenditures. Next year’s budget is one that achieves both economic revitalization and greater fiscal soundness, and in addition to the forecasted tax revenue of 59.1 trillion yen, which would be the highest level in the 27 years since FY1991, it will reduce the amount of the issue of government bonds for the sixth successive year since the establishment of the Abe Cabinet.
Further, in the supplementary budget, in addition to supplementary fiscal demand such as disaster response, we will swiftly work on the revolutions in human resources development and productivity, the strengthening of the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries in preparation for trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and other matters.
In the first Diet session of the new year, we intend to enact both this fiscal year’s supplementary budget and next fiscal year’s budget as quickly as possible, and take strong steps forward toward overcoming our greatest challenge of the declining birthrate and aging population, and ensure a firm growth trajectory of the economy. I would like to request the continued cooperation of everyone in the ruling parties.”
