ID :
80333
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 01:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/80333
The shortlink copeid
New minister Kamei intends to review Japan's postal privatization
+
TOKYO, Sept. 16 Kyodo -
Shizuka Kamei, Japan's new minister in charge of postal services and financial
affairs, expressed intention Wednesday to review the nation's postal
privatization reform.
''I want to enact a basic law to unify three Japan Post services at an
extraordinary Diet session,'' Kamei, leader of the People's New Party, told
reporters in reiterating his view, which goes against the current privatization
process of government-owned Japan Post Holdings Co.
The 72-year-old took up the state minister post nearly four years after being
expelled from the Liberal Democratic Party following his opposition to then
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform drive for the nation's postal system.
''I'm filled with emotion,'' Kamei said, recalling the path he has taken to
correct what he called ''wrong politics,'' adding, ''I'm (now) standing at the
start line.''
Japan began the 10-year process of privatizing state-run postal services in
October 2007, creating four companies each providing mail delivery,
over-the-counter services, banking and insurance operations, under the Japan
Post holding company. The banking and insurance units are currently planned to
go public as early as fiscal 2010.
Analysts say Kamei's appointment as the minister in charge of postal affairs
may be regarded by investors as a setback for Japan's structural reforms.
New Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan and its smaller
allies, the PNP and the Social Democratic Party, agreed last week to submit a
bill to freeze the planned sale of shares in state-owned Japan Post and its
banking and insurance units to stop the privatization process.
The three parties aim to freeze the stock sale, fearing that the postal
privatization could widen a gap between major cities and rural areas in the
range of services people can have as a private company seeks business
efficiency.
The government still owns 100 percent of the Japan Post holding company.
Kamei, who will also have oversight of Japan's financial affairs, has proposed
introducing a three-year moratorium on loan payments for small companies to
help their financing.
''I want to consider how the economy should be to make everyone happy,'' he said.
==Kyodo
TOKYO, Sept. 16 Kyodo -
Shizuka Kamei, Japan's new minister in charge of postal services and financial
affairs, expressed intention Wednesday to review the nation's postal
privatization reform.
''I want to enact a basic law to unify three Japan Post services at an
extraordinary Diet session,'' Kamei, leader of the People's New Party, told
reporters in reiterating his view, which goes against the current privatization
process of government-owned Japan Post Holdings Co.
The 72-year-old took up the state minister post nearly four years after being
expelled from the Liberal Democratic Party following his opposition to then
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform drive for the nation's postal system.
''I'm filled with emotion,'' Kamei said, recalling the path he has taken to
correct what he called ''wrong politics,'' adding, ''I'm (now) standing at the
start line.''
Japan began the 10-year process of privatizing state-run postal services in
October 2007, creating four companies each providing mail delivery,
over-the-counter services, banking and insurance operations, under the Japan
Post holding company. The banking and insurance units are currently planned to
go public as early as fiscal 2010.
Analysts say Kamei's appointment as the minister in charge of postal affairs
may be regarded by investors as a setback for Japan's structural reforms.
New Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan and its smaller
allies, the PNP and the Social Democratic Party, agreed last week to submit a
bill to freeze the planned sale of shares in state-owned Japan Post and its
banking and insurance units to stop the privatization process.
The three parties aim to freeze the stock sale, fearing that the postal
privatization could widen a gap between major cities and rural areas in the
range of services people can have as a private company seeks business
efficiency.
The government still owns 100 percent of the Japan Post holding company.
Kamei, who will also have oversight of Japan's financial affairs, has proposed
introducing a three-year moratorium on loan payments for small companies to
help their financing.
''I want to consider how the economy should be to make everyone happy,'' he said.
==Kyodo
