Similarly, some regulations exist for the sole purpose of protecting specific industries. Relaxing or lifting those regulations will be a positive economic reform from the perspective of opening markets. Together with narrowing the price gap on consumer goods toward international standard, it will stimulate economic vitality and enhance the quality of life. The Diet has already enacted four laws for political reform. And the direction of administrative and economic reform is becoming clear. For example, we can see proposals for concrete measures in the reports from the advisory committees to the government on administrative reform and economic reform. I think what is far more important is to implement these ideas with a sure-footed will.
To be sure, deregulation will entail pain for us in business as we contend with this stubborn economic downturn. Even among ourselves, there are different opinions on some aspects of reform. Meanwhile, some harbor doubts about the ability of the minority government to accomplish the different reforms.
Nonetheless, we simply cannot leave reform half-done. Abandoning reform is unacceptable from the perspective of maintaining an economically vigorous society in the twenty-first century. It is unacceptable from the perspective of establishing credibility for Japan in the world.
I look forward to propagating debate at Keidanren about ways to pursue deregulation and other kinds of reform. I am calling for the establishment of a third-party council, comprised of non-government officials, to monitor progress in administrative reform. I also will be calling for the government to move speedily in framing an action plan for deregulation.