Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the Ceremony for the Presentation of Letters Designating Comprehensive Special Zones and Selecting Future Cities that was held at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "The comprehensive special zone system is a major pillar of the New Growth Strategy compiled in June , two years ago. It is a system for the realization of an attractive region, not only through deregulation, but also by fully utilizing various policy options, including those for taxation, fiscal, and financial policies.
The future city system is a new system that we now have in order for the future cities to take the lead in efforts to tackle issues that no region of Japan or country in the world can avoid, including environmental problems and the issues of aging societies. We conducted a strict examination of many applications. Please boldly carry out your respective plans.
I strongly hope that each project will succeed and become a trigger for the revitalization of Japan, bringing about the creation of one vibrant region after another, leading to a vibrant, blossomed Japan."

After delivering the address, the Prime Minister presented each of the representatives of local public authorities or others concerned with either a Letter of Designation concerning the Designation of Comprehensive Special Zones or a Letter of Selection concerning the Selection of Future Cities.