formation of sustainable public transportation networks are gathering momentum.

Furthermore, in 2015, the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency established a program for investing in new companies that engage in businesses of rebuilding local public transportation networks, in order to diversify and enhance support. The MLIT will also continue to provide necessary support to the initiatives of local governments.

## Promotion of Comprehensive Logistics Policy

In order to speedily and appropriately respond to socioeconomic circumstances surrounding logistics of Japan, such as the deepening of global supply chains, global warming countermeasures, and heightening needs for ensuring safety and security, the Comprehensive Logistics Policy Guidelines (2013–2017) were adopted by a Cabinet decision in June 2013. In accordance with the Guidelines, relevant ministries are pushing forward logistics policies in coordination with each other in a comprehensive and unified manner, together with other plans and policies, such as the National Land Grand Design 2050, the National Spatial Strategies (national plan), the Priority Plan for Social Infrastructure Development, and the Basic Plan on Transport Policy.

Japan has detailed and high-standard logistics services in terms of punctuality, safety, stability and reliability, conformity with shipper's orders and the like mainly through track transportation, which underpinned the just-in-time system of the manufacturing industry, and contributed to the development of the distribution industry, including convenience stores and the improved convenience of daily lives of citizens through delivery and other services. On the other hand, in recent years, the socioeconomic circumstances surrounding logistics are changing dramatically, including declining/aging population, innovations in such areas as information communication technology (ICT), heightening disaster risk, increasingly frequent deliveries of smaller goods, and diversification of customer needs. Moreover, labor shortages are especially evident and posing challenges in the logistics sector, with aging truck drivers and possibilities of increased difficulties in securing personnel in the medium to long term; therefore, actions need to be taken as early as possible.

Based on these circumstances, the logistics taskforce was newly established under the Infrastructure Development Council’s subcommittee in order to deliberate on matters, such as basic directions of the future logistics policy, had a joint deliberation with the Basic Policy Taskforce of the Infrastructure Development Council’s transportation subcommittee, and reported to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in December 2015. In order to realize productivity innovation and evolve into attractive logistics of the future as recommended in the report, we will promote labor saving and further improvement of efficiency, development of new markets, including overseas, and release of new services. We will also work to establish work environments for securing necessary human resources and contribute to the resolution of social problems, such as environmental measures and enhancement of disaster response capabilities.

Furthermore, from the perspective of realizing the report by reviewing systems, a bill to amend the Act on Promotion of Integration and Rationalization of the Distribution Services was submitted to the Diet on February 2016 in order to establish a framework for promoting labor saving and improved efficiency of overall logistics networks that include transportation by, for example, promoting coordination among various relevant parties that include the government, local governments, shippers, and logistics companies for achieving further efficiency and optimization of logistics systems that are important social infrastructures that support socio-economic activities.