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On June 18, 2021, the Prime Minister jointly held ninth meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2021 and the 12th meeting of the Committee on the Growth Strategy at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on the draft Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2021 and the draft action plan for the Growth Strategy.

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we compiled the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2021 and the action plan for the Growth Strategy.
 
In line with the Basic Policy, even as we place responses to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the top of the agenda, we will provide solutions to longstanding issues by undertaking prioritized investment in the four areas of green, digital, creating vibrant communities, and addressing the declining birth rate, aiming at robust growth. Therefore, we gave a subtitle to the Basic Policy ― ‘Four Driving Forces That Open the Way to the Future of Japan.’
 
We will quickly deliberate on legislative measures regarding such issues as securing hospital beds and enabling earlier commercialization of therapeutic medication and vaccines in, as it were, contingencies caused by infectious diseases.
 
We will engage in wage hikes with the aim of achieving minimum wages of 1,000 yen on the national average at an earlier time, in order to boost the economy by raising wages and correct the disparity that has widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we will launch a review team early next month toward the establishment of an agency focusing on issues related to children.
 
While advancing growth-oriented policies, we will maintain the goal of realizing fiscal soundness and continue our existing efforts to improve government expenditures, based on the idea that the economy is the foundation of public finance.
 
The action plan for the Growth Strategy incorporates concrete measures to implement the Strategy, including investments and R&D in 14 sectors in the green field, environmental improvement for freelance workers, digital policies for economic security, and support for startups such as the introduction of the scheme of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).
 
We will flesh out the specifics of these policies presented today in the future budget formulation and system reforms to realize the policies in a swift manner. I ask for your continued support.”