Japan Govt mulls making post offices more like convenience stores
Post offices should be modeled on convenience stores and sell a variety of items, from financial products to household goods, according to proposals being drawn up by the Cabinet Office.
The proposals are part of government plans to privatize the three postal operations — mail, savings and life insurance — currently offered by Japan Post.
By easing regulations on post offices, the government aims to allow privatized postal operations to earn revenue and improve profitability.
Currently, post offices can sell only products related to postal services.
But the government is weighing deregulation that will let them sell investment trusts and other financial products handled by private-sector financial institutions, as well as food and other items.
The central government is also hoping to widen the scope of operations that post offices are allowed to carry out on behalf of local governments.
It believes that these measures will help pay for the cost of maintaining the post office network, helping to ensure that the offices continue to serve local communities.
(Nikkei) 08-03 1356
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