Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi plans to appoint Haruhiko Kuroda, former vice finance minister for international affairs, as special adviser to his Cabinet, sources said Tuesday.
By picking Kuroda, who left his former post on Jan. 14, Koizumi aims to show that his Cabinet will address monetary and economic policy matters, the sources said.
The prime minister acknowledged that he is contemplating the appointment of a special adviser on financial affairs and did not rule out the possibility of appointing Kuroda to the new post.
"I will appoint the person I deem necessary as adviser," Koizumi told reporters when asked if he intended to appoint a financial expert.
The proposed move is seen as an effort on the part of the prime minister to better focus on policies to get the economy out of its doldrums during the ordinary Diet session that convened Monday.
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