Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� August, 2002

Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy Thursday, August 29, 2002 The twenty-fourth meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence as a second day of intensive discussions aimed at promoting structural reform. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had instructed the seven Cabinet Ministers in July to consider reform plans to give shape to the so-called "Basic Policies No. 2." For three days, starting from yesterday August 28, Prime Minister Koizumi is receiving explanations on reform proposals from the Cabinet Ministers and conducting discussions. At the first day of discussions on August 28, Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Toranosuke Katayama and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma provided explanations on reform proposals for local administration and finances as well as energy policy and policy on small and medium-sized enterprises, respectively, and at the second day on August 29 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Chikage Ogi and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Chikara Sakaguchi presented reform proposals such as a review of public investment. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tsutomu Takebe, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Atsuko Toyama and Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Koji Omi are scheduled to give presentations at the third day of discussions on August 30.