Seiji Murata, director general of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, will become vice minister of economy, trade and industry on July 30, it was announced Friday by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma.

He will replace Katsusada Hirose, who has served at the post for three years.

Hiranuma also unveiled other major personnel changes. Tadakatsu Sano, director general of the Trade Policy Bureau, will become the vice minister for international affairs. Takao Kitabata, assistant vice minister at the minister's secretariat, will be promoted to deputy vice minister.

Hajime Furuta, director general for Commerce and Distribution Policy at the minister's secretariat, will not occupy any post for now as he is expected to take over as head of the Foreign Ministry's Economic Cooperation Bureau, which handles official development assistance, Hiranuma said.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi formally asked Hiranuma to send a trade ministry official for the post as part of her efforts to reform the scandal-tainted Foreign Ministry.

In return, the trade ministry may accept a Foreign Ministry official in a senior position, Hiranuma said.

The personnel changes are expected to be approved at a Cabinet meeting July 30.