Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the second meeting of the Council on National Strategy and Policy for 2012 at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on creating new industries and markets through innovation and initiatives for reconstruction of disaster-stricken regions.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "I received a number of proposals on innovation today from the private-sector members. I would like to promote the government's initiatives in line with these proposals.
The first issue is steady implementation of the New Growth Strategy. I would like to have a thorough review compiled as an interim report of the New Growth Strategy, assessing the results and impacts of specific policies and identifying the bottlenecks and what is needed to overcome them.
The second issue is green innovation, which is a major pillar of Japan's revival. This has a great significance also in terms of leading the world in the field of energy revolution and creating new industries and employment. I would like to have a bold policy package compiled as a green growth strategy by this summer.
The third issue is life innovation. For this, I would like you to proceed with the work to substantiate a healthcare innovation strategy, in order for healthcare-related businesses to become a growing industry, and expect the result to be reported to this council around April. I would like you to take a bold approach with regard to regulatory and institutional reforms and such matters in this process.
The fourth issue is private initiatives to propose strategies for enhanounciling innovation competitiveness, which I would like to welcome greatly. The government also intends to intensively support industry-academia-government projects that streamline the process leading from R&D to commercialization.
Then, concerning reconstruction, I would like to ensure quick one-stop response to a range of needs with the Reconstruction Agency acting as a control tower, and commit my full efforts in resolving such issues as assisting residents to return to their homes they left due to the nuclear accident, while utilizing human resources of both the private and public sector.
For reconstruction, the disposal of rubble must be carried out over a wide area. I would like to gain the people's understanding through detailed communication of safety information, and ask for public-private cooperation from all of you, including the local governments and industries."