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On June 11, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 40th meeting of the Council on National Strategic Special Zones at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, discussions were held on the certification of special zone plans and evaluation of the designated zones, as well as the descriptions in the 2019 Investments for the Future Strategy (provisional title), pertaining to national strategic special zones. 
 
Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we had a deliberation over the items related to regulatory reforms that should be included in this year’s Investments for the Future Strategy.
 
Last month, the issues related to the establishment of new businesses by international students were proposed at the Council on Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy. In response, we have swiftly decided that we will reform the current system in order to allow international students to change their visa status for preparation for launching their business while remaining in school. In addition, we have also included key items for the materialization of Society 5.0 [into the Investment for the Future Strategy], such as the lift of bans on online remote medication guidance in urban areas and cashless payment of wages, which are our long-standing issues.
 
The Cabinet has approved an amendment bill [on the National Strategic Special Zone Act] last Friday, which includes the Super City Initiative. I would like to thank all those who worked for the preparation of this bill. .
 
Regulatory reforms will continue to be the main engine for Abenomics, and national strategic special zones are the way to reform bedrock regulations. I ask all the relevant ministers to exert your efforts to materialize swiftly what we have decided today, cooperating with each other and working together with the Cabinet Office.”