The government unveiled a draft of basic economic fiscal policies at a meeting of an advisory council yesterday.  The draft includes the pushback of the target year to balance the budget from fiscal 2020 to 2025, relaxation of visas to allow foreign workers with a certain level of skill, free higher education for mainly low-income households, continuous efforts on work-style reform initiatives. The plan is expected to be approved by the Cabinet by middle of this month.

The House of Representatives today passed a bill to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact without the US, so called TPP11 or CP TPP (the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership).  Since a ratification bill is automatically enacted 30 days after it has been sent to the House of Councillors in Japan, today's approval by the House of Representatives ensured the enactment by the end of the current ordinary Diet session, which is scheduled on 20 June.

GR Japan returns to co-host The Corporate Affairs Forum again this year.  The event, which will be held at the Fullerton Hotel Singapore on Thursday, 26 April, will explore Public Affairs in the context of The Asian Century.  Jakob Edberg, GR Japan President & CEO, and Dasuke Sakamoto, GR Japan Policy Manager, will join as the panelists to discuss the changes in the public affairs industry and the new dynamics of trade. To learn more details and register, please visit the event website.

GR Japan President & CEO, Jakob Edberg, was quoted in a story featured on lobbying activities in the Nikkei Business January 29 issue.  The article is available from the link (Japanese only).