Japan PM says stimulus spending not 'forever'

Abe's plan to overturn four years in which the majority of money the government spends is raised from selling bonds came as an opinion poll showed he has enjoyed a boost in popularity since coming to power last month.

“We can't continue fiscal spending forever,” he told parliament at the opening of a new session. “We will draw up and implement a growth strategy that will see private investment and consumption grow sustainably.”

“The greatest and most urgent challenge for our country is revival of the economy. We can't exit from deflation and from a high yen by keeping the past measures. Therefore I present a bold policy package,” he said.

The policy speech comes after his government announced a US$226.5 billion stimulus package earlier this month, raising concerns over the level of Japan's already-towering public debt.

In his first policy speech since taking office in December, Abe repeated his “three arrows” of economy policy: aggressive monetary easing, flexible fiscal spending and a growth strategy that would induce private investment.

Japan's budget for fiscal 2013 starting April will likely stand at 92.61 trillion yen (US$1.05 trillion), with revenue estimated at 43.10 trillion yen and new bond issuance at 42.85 trillion yen — the first time in four years revenue surpasses new bond issuance, major newspapers reported Monday.

Under the budget plan, spending on defense will increase by 40 billion yen, the first rise in 11 years, which comes against the backdrop of a lingering territorial row with China over the sovereignty of a chain of islands in the East China Sea.

1|2|Next Page>>

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Japan says economy to grow 2.5 percent in this fiscal year

NEXT ARTICLE
Japan mobile carrier KDDI reports profit nearly doubled over 2012 Q3

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit