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On April 19, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 6th meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2019 at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the social infrastructure improvement, which are thematic topics of the Integrated Economic and Fiscal Reforms, and regional revitalization .
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we first discussed the infrastructure improvement among various areas of the Integrated Economic and Fiscal Reforms. In materializing Society 5.0, it is necessary to change our approach on social and other infrastructure in addition to those on industrial activities and the people’s lives.
 
I would like Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ishii to collaborate with the relevant ministers and strategically promote far-sighted development of towns, convenient and comfortable to live in, putting smart cities, which utilize innovative technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), as the foundation, as recommended by the expert members.
 
After that, we held a discussion over regional revitalization. The creation of a flow of people, money and services to communities outside major cities is a pressing issue. In particular, it will be an important measure towards regional revitalization to create an environment where people living in cities, who have a wealth of experience, can utilize their expertise in local communities outside urban areas. I would like Minister Katayama to make further efforts to bolster the flow of people to rural areas in a variety of ways, including through second home living and second job arrangements.
 
In addition, the Rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are finally approaching this fall and next year respectively. I want Minister Katayama and the relevant ministers including the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to closely collaborate each other and promote further revitalization of Japan’s regions.”