(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to speak about the Joint Public-Private Promotion Committee. Recently, the Government of Australia selected a Japanese vessel as one of the final candidates for its next-generation general purpose frigates. In response, in order to work further on this project through joint public and private efforts, we have now established the “Joint Public-Private Promotion Committee for the Promotion of the Joint Development and Production of Next-Generation General Purpose Frigates for the Government of Australia,” chaired jointly by Ministry of Defense (MOD) Vice Minister Masuda and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries President Izumisawa. The first meeting of this Committee is scheduled to be held today. In addition to the MOD and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this Committee will also comprise public sector-members from the Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as private sector-members from companies that will be involved in the project. It will truly be an All Japan effort. We will continue to work closely with the relevant ministries and agencies, and companies, and engage in joint public and private efforts to ensure that we can come up with a good proposal for the final selection.