Abe signals shift in emphasis of Abenomics

Tokyo

IN an apparent shift of emphasis in his "Abenomics" strategy for the economy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Monday that he would launch a dialogue with companies to persuade them to step up productivity-boosting capital investment.

The announcement came as Tokyo released a draft strategy aimed at boosting Japan's growth potential by way of raising capital investment in areas such as robotics and artificial intelligence to offset the impact of an ageing society and labour shortage.

Mr Abe did not say when the dialogue would take place, but the Nikkei business daily reported that it would happen in autumn and be attended by him, key economic ministers and the heads of business lobbie…