Press Conference by Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister for Financial Services

(Excerpt)

(Friday, February 22, 2013, from 11:06: a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)

[Opening Remarks by Minister Aso]

First, let me explain about the “Consultation Desk for Facilitation of Financing for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).” Since the SME Financing Facilitation Act is scheduled to expire at the end of March, to address concerns of borrowers in various situations and answer their questions, we will have all Local Finance Bureaus and Finance Offices open “Consultation Desks for Facilitation of Financing for SMEs” in accordance with the recently adopted emergency economic package. The desks will act as centralized handlers of requests for consultation and complaints as well as other requests from borrowers and respond to them in a conscientious manner. The desks will be established effective today and start operation next Monday, on February 25.

I hope that borrowers will feel free to contact the desks and request consultations. I would like to add that the Financial Services Agency (FSA) is trying to ensure the facilitation of financing for SMEs through such measures as dispatching Senior Vice Minister Terada, Parliamentary Secretary Shimajiri, and other officials to all prefectures to hold briefing sessions on how it intends to deal with this matter after the expiration of the SME Financing Facilitation Act.

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