Abe vows to promote exports of Japanese medical skills

Sabtu, 20 April 2013 01:09

(TOKYO-Kyodo) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised Friday to make efforts to accelerate exports of high-quality Japanese medical technologies as one of the key steps to revitalize the nation's economy.

In his opening statement at a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Abe said, referring to his "growth strategies," that the government plans to submit bills to promote the practical use of regenerative medical techniques, including utilization of induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells.

Vowing to become the top salesperson of Japanese medical skills and tools, Abe said he will start "full-fledged" economic diplomacy when he visits Russia and the Middle East during Japan's Golden Week holidays from late April to early May.

Abe said his administration, which has promised to craft its economic growth strategies by June, will take the lead in creating a new scheme to strengthen cooperation between medical equipment makers and organizations, aiming to bolster their international competitiveness.

In order to activate the power of women and young people to shore up Japan's economy, Abe said the government is eager to expand their employment by increasing the number of nursery teachers and other measures.

Growth strategies are among the key policies Abe calls the "three arrows" to conquer Japan's long deflation, along with aggressive monetary easing and large-scale public works projects.