TOKYO: The Japan Business Federation, Keidanren, released a proposal on the July 16 calling for balancing efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus with economic activities.

In the proposal, adopted at a summer forum in Tokyo, the country’s largest business lobby called on the government to strengthen virus screening systems in order to resume international travel that has been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keidanren also asked the government to realize smoother immigration clearance through further digitization.

The proposal underlined the need to prepare a system robust enough to deal with a further deterioration of the coronavirus crisis while taking all possible measures to resume economic activities with full precautions against infection.

The government should strengthen its role as the command center to battle infectious diseases, including by changing how to concentrate authority in emergencies, it said.

Keidanren also stressed the need to promote economic and fiscal reforms as fiscal expenditures have ballooned due to measures to fight the coronavirus.

Specifically, the proposal urged the government to prioritize spending on key fields, including the “Society 5.0” initiative aimed at resolving social issues through digital technology innovation.

JIJI Press