TOKYO: The Japanese government is considering abolishing some 10 state funds as projects under them have effectively finished, government sources said Tuesday.

The 10 include a fund for a renewable energy promotion project run by the agriculture ministry.

Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio is expected to announce the abolition at a government meeting on digital administrative and fiscal reform as early as late April.

Administrative reform minister KONO Taro has underlined the need for returning unused money kept in such funds to the state coffers.

Japan has over 180 state funds, whose combined balance stood at 16.6 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2022.

In an autumn review of administrative operations in November last year, experts called for putting state funds under scrutiny. Kishida later ordered the review of all state funds.

JIJI Press