Keidanren sees health industry as key for Japan's growth strategy+

TOKYO, April 9 Kyodo -
The Japan Business Federation, the country's most influential business lobby,
is considering proposing that the government include health-related businesses
as a key field for the creation of new demand under the nation's growth
strategy, sources close to the matter said Friday.
The federation, better known as Nippon Keidanren, also plans to call for the
government to raise the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to around 10
percent in the future through staged increases of 2 percent from fiscal 2011 in
a bid to ease concern over pensions and medical care, the sources said.
In the proposal that Keidanren will seek to formalize next week, the federation
also plans to request that the government draw up a bill to reform revenue and
expenditure to restore fiscal health.
The Keidanren's proposal could affect the government's growth strategy, which
is being formulated under Finance Minister Naoto Kan.
The government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is aiming to boost the economy
through support for households, including child allowances.
The federation will call for corporate tax to be reduced, arguing it is
essential to enhance the competitiveness of companies in order to realize
medium- and long-term growth, the sources said.
In a bid to reduce the burden on low-income households, the federation also
plans to propose establishing a system to refund tax levied on daily
necessities, the sources said.
In the proposal, Keidanren plans to present six areas -- health, environment
and energy, Asian economic strategy, tourism and regional development, science
and technology, employment and development of human resources -- as key to
creating demand.
With regard to health-related businesses, the federation plans to call for
extending remote medical care using the Internet and satellite connections as
well as implementing joint development of drugs with Asian countries, the
sources said.
On measures to protect the environment, it will urge the government to support
the spread of environmentally friendly products by utilizing subsidies and tax
breaks, the sources said.
The federation also plans to propose creating a better working environment for
women by expanding childcare services through easing regulations in preparation
for a decline in the workforce, the sources said.
==Kyodo
2010-04-10 00:02:47


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