A state task force on Friday approved a plan calling for the thorough review of 157 government-affiliated corporations in an attempt to save 1 trillion yen in government expenditures.
The report, approved in the inaugural meeting of the panel, headed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, calls for the review of 74 special public corporations and 83 government-authorized entities, and outlines the standards for conducting the evaluation.
The panel, which includes all Cabinet ministers, will now begin concrete discussions along lines set by the interim report. It will finalize a reform plan by yearend, three months ahead of the initially set schedule, with the aim of reflecting the reforms in the fiscal 2002 budget.