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On July 30, 2020, the Prime Minister held the 42nd Council on Investments for the Future at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the participants held discussions on the discussion themes for reviews of a new vision for society in the age of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the future beyond that.

Following the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

“While we recently approved the FY2020 Growth Strategy by a Cabinet decision, we began our discussions towards the next growth strategy today. The world has changed significantly due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Towards a new normal for everyday life, it is necessary to advance deliberation on the Growth Strategy as well. To this end, looking ahead to the age of COVID-19 and beyond, we have expanded this council, obtaining the participation of experts from the medical field, and held discussions.

We will control the spread of infections as much as possible and promote socio-economic activities. Along this steep path ahead, we must protect employment and businesses by any means possible. We must ask for reforms of business models towards a new normal for everyday life, along with establishing new work styles through reviewing ways of doing businesses. Towards a new era, we will build a social structure that is resilient enough to respond to another emergency. We must turn this crisis into a major opportunity for societal transformation. The Government will also hold deliberation over the development of an environment for this change.

In today’s first meeting, each member shared views on how future discussions should proceed and what kind of themes should be discussed. In future sessions, I would like you to discuss the specific direction of those discussions.

I ask Minister Nishimura to select the specific themes of future discussions, based on the views expressed by the private sector members today, and proceed with arrangements so that we can swiftly start discussions. We will compile the interim report by the end of the year. In addition, we intend to proceed with discussions in order to compile the final report by the summer of next year.”