[Title] Press Conference by Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru regarding the Sale of Stockpiled Rice through Discretionary Contracts

(On the reaction of Prime Minister Ishiba to this morning's formal announcement regarding the release of stockpiled rice through discretionary contracts and the reason behind this urgent announcement, which was made less than a week after the change of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

Last week, on May 21, I instructed the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to consider selling stockpiled rice through the use of discretionary contracts. Today, it was announced that 300,000 tons of such rice will be sold under the system, which I find is a very speedy response. I understand that this was the Minister's decision to respond as quickly as possible, given the situation where consumers are suffering from what could be called an excessive surge in rice prices, and I hope that this measure will alleviate consumers' anxieties.

(On how the Government will fulfil its responsibility to realize a retail price of 2,000 yen or so, following the remark by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi that he aims for rice to be available in stores at around 2,160 yen (tax included) per 5 kg, possibly as early as the beginning of June; and what further measures the Government will take to fulfil its responsibility if the 2,000 yen target is not achieved)

We are now making all possible efforts to achieve the target of 2,000 yen per 5 kg, although the price could be slightly higher if the costs you earlier mentioned are added. We believe there is a very high possibility of achieving this by utilizing the unprecedented method of discretionary contracts. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as the Government as a whole, will take every possible measure to make it happen as we strongly expect that it will come to fruition.