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

First Meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Industrial Revival and Employment Measures Tuesday, November 12, 2002 The First Meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Industrial Revival and Employment Measures was held in the Ministerial Office in the Diet Building. The establishment of the Strategic Headquarters for Industrial Revival and Employment Measures was provided for in the "Comprehensive Measures to Accelerate Reforms" adopted on October 30 as a new organization to promote an integrated approach to industrial revival and employment measures together with the acceleration of the disposal of non-performing loans. The Strategic Headquarters is headed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The Headquarters will compile a basic policy on industrial reorganization and corporate revival while advancing preparations for the establishment of the Institution for Industrial Revival (provisional name), with the central role being played by Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, whose portfolio was enhanced on November 7, to include the role of Minister of State for Institution for Industrial Revival (provisional name), and will strive to smoothly advance the fundamental review of the Law on Special Measures for Industrial Revitalization. The Headquarters will also proactively advance enhancements to the safety net by securing and creating employment in light of the fact that employees will be forced to leave their jobs as a result of the disposal of non-performing loans, in addition to strengthening the safety net for small- and medium-enterprises through measures such active use of credit guarantees and government-run financial institutions. At the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "I intend for this Headquarters to serve as a core organization as the entire government acts to achieve the goal of the Koizumi Cabinet of concluding the disposal on non-performing loans during FY2005."