Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� April, 2004

The Ninth Meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) Monday, April 26, 2004 The ninth meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At this meeting, the points of discussion on the privatization of postal services were decided. In organizing the points of discussion, targets including the following were defined: improving the efficiency of the four functions of the postal services, namely, mailing service, postal savings, postal life insurance and liaison networks (nationwide network of Postal Offices) to realize independence of each function in their respective markets; improving public convenience; minimizing the "invisible public burden;" and linking the people's savings to economic revitalization. Privatization of postal services is intended to be realized in 2007. At the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "The Preparatory Office for Privatization of Postal Services was established today. Three years ago, perhaps no one believed that the privatization of postal services could be realized. We will advance the reform toward its heart, and I ask all of you to make your steadfast efforts in this regard."