Japans postal services to be deregulated in 2003
Japan will allow private companies to begin mail services in 2003 under a plan endorsed by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday.
Under the plan by Japanese Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, a new public corporation is to be created in 2003 to take over the state-run services.
To get the licenses of mail services, private companies have to fulfill tough conditions set by the Japanese government.
If a private company, for example, wish to handle smaller types of mail, such as regular postcards and letters, it will be required to provide daily mail services nationwide at the going rate so that service disruption will not occur in underpopulated regions such as outlying islands.
The ceiling on minimum postage rates would be 80 yen (0.6 U.S. dollar).
Applicants will also be required to create easy and confidential service systems such as the establishment of post boxes.
Japan’s posts ministry intends to submit legislation for the deregulation of mail services to an ordinary Diet (Japan’s parliament) session to be convened next month.
Copyright 2001 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
