Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

[Provisional Translation]

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
I would like to give an overview of the extraordinary Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved five general measures. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Amari and Prime Minister Abe made statements concerning the Basic Policies for the Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2015, and the revised Japan Revitalization Strategy 2015. Minister Ishiba made a statement concerning the Basic Policy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy 2015. Minister Arimura made a statement concerning the Regulatory Reform Plan. The Minister for Reconstruction made a statement concerning the Scale and Financial Resources for Recovery and Reconstruction Operations for the Period of Reconstruction including the Five-year Period from FY2016.

In today’s extraordinary Cabinet meeting, the Basic Policies for the Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2015, the revised Japan Revitalization Strategy 2015, the Regulatory Reform Plan, the Basic Policy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy 2015, and the measures concerning the Scale and Financial Resources for Recovery and Reconstruction Operations for the Period of Reconstruction including the Five-year Period from FY2016 were approved by the Cabinet. Under the basic philosophy that “there can be no fiscal soundness without economic revitalization,” the Basic Policies stipulates that the goal of achieving fiscal soundness by FY2020 will be maintained and that the Plan for Economic and Fiscal Revitalization will aim for integrated revitalization of both economic and fiscal measures. The revised Japan Revitalization Strategy 2015 includes new measures that aim for the realization of a “productivity revolution through investment in the future” in order to overcome supply constraints resulting from the diminishing population. In addition, based on the Regulatory Reform Plan, the Government will promote growth strategy and engage in reform of vested interests to give the people of Japan greater diversity of choice. Under the Basic Policy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy 2015, the Government will engage in efforts to realize local Abenomics by deepening regional vitalization in order to overcome the issue of population decline and secure growth potential. For the reconstruction of the areas affected by disasters, the Government has secured financial resources for projects that are anticipated to take 10 years, including recovery and reconstruction projects in the “reconstruction and revitalization period.” With these resources, the Government will make every effort to accelerate reconstruction.

(Abridged)