Panel head calls for postal privatization in inaugural meeting.

Panel head calls for postal privatization in inaugural meeting.
From JAPAN POLICY & POLITICS, June 11th, 2001

COPYRIGHT 2001 Information Access Company TOKYO, June 4 Kyodo The head of a new advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tasked
with discussing the future of Japan’s postal services called for their
privatization Monday in the group’s inaugural meeting. Economic analyst Naoki Tanaka said he told the meeting at the premier’s
official residence that he personally thinks the postal, savings and
insurance services that the postal authorities operate should be
privatized. The panel, which includes 10 private-sector experts, will meet about once a
month and draw up a report on its findings in about a year, Tanaka said. Koizumi has long held the proposal to privatize the services. He told the
panel at the outset of the meeting that the issue is one of his cabinet’s
main policies. ”The matter of postal services will have a major impact on administrative
and fiscal reform programs. I hope you will reach a conclusion in about a
year while holding discussions without prejudice,” he said. Some sectors of Koizumi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party that are supported
by postal workers strongly oppose the privatization proposal. A decision has already been made to have a new public corporation take over
the services in 2003. The advisory panel is tasked with discussing whether to
privatize them after that time. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Toranosuke Katayama also attended
Monday’s meeting. Katayama said the government plans to submit a bill on the new public postal
corporation in next year’s regular Diet session, according to panel members. Page NA THIS IS THE FULL TEXT: COPYRIGHT 2001 Kyodo News International, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale GroupJAPAN POLICY & POLITICS, 11
th June 2001