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Q.
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Discussion of competition policy based on the population decrease was included in the “Future Investment Strategy 2018” decided by the Cabinet the other day. I expect the discussion of the integration and realignment of regional financial institutions in the future. As Minister of State for Financial Services, what kind of discussion do you expect to take place? In addition, the Japan Fair Trade Commission has been examining if it will permit the integration of the Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. and the Eighteenth Bank, Ltd. in the Kyushu region. Do you think the discussion will have any influence on the examination by the Japan Fair Trade Commission?
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Basically, the discussion of competition policy in the Council on Investments for the Future is not limited to the financial industry. All industries are facing similar issues resulting from population decrease. Regarding the financial industry, if a bank finds it hard to make ends meet in a certain region, the bank may say it will close offices in such region. This will surely cause serious inconvenience to the people and businesses in the region. If such a case happens, the bank’s businesses need to be integrated, merged, or absorbed by the other banks to some extent. The point is how to prevent the possibility of no financial service providers in the region. There’s been a lot of talk lately about the integration of the Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. and the Eighteenth Bank, Ltd. Extensive examination should be conducted including from this aspect. I feel that we need to discuss a lot of things with the Japan Fair Trade Commission.
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Q.
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The Japan Fair Trade Commission is currently examining if it will permit the integration of the Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. and the Eighteenth Bank, Ltd. How do you expect the discussion this time to influence the examination by the Japan Fair Trade Commission?
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Since we have been discussing this issue, it is an old story. However, I am afraid that I am not in a position to comment on how the Japan Fair Trade Commission will deal with the issue and I even don’t know how the discussion will influence on their examination.
