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

Eighth Meeting of the Urban Renaissance Headquarters Friday, October 4, 2002 The eighth meeting of the Urban Renaissance Headquarters was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in attendance. At this meeting, a decision was made on a proposal to designate 28 urban areas, including the cities of Sapporo, Kobe and Takamatsu as areas for urgent improvement through urban renaissance where the Government will concentrate measures for urban rejuvenation. In July of this year, 17 urban areas were designated by Cabinet Order as the first group of designated areas, including Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. The proposal to designate the second group of urban areas will also be subject to public comment before an official decision is taken. In his address at the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated, "I call on you to take powerful measures for urban renaissance, focusing the measures prepared by each ministry on the areas for urgent improvement while giving consideration to ensuring coordination with the special zones for structural reform."