Japan to set up post privatisation office
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is to set up a preparatory office to promote the privatisation of Japan Post on April 26, the third anniversary of his entering office.
The office will be under the premier’s direct supervision, as Koizumi wants to show his determination to complete the privatisation of the postal services in 2007 ahead of the House of Councillors election in July, according to the sources.
Koizumi is also considering setting up a panel of about half a dozen experts from the private sector to supervise the process of drafting relevant bills to counter criticism that the centerpiece of his reform drive is being led by bureaucrats, the sources said.
At a news conference Friday, Koizumi said the privatization project is one of the most important issues for his administration and that he will appoint former senior agriculture bureaucrat Yoshiaki Watanabe as head of the preparatory office.
He also said Watanabe, a former vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, will serve as his adviser on postal privatization.
The office will be launched in line with the planned compilation at the end of April of an interim report by the governmental Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on the details of the privatization of mail delivery, postal savings and postal life insurance.
