The government should aim to fully privatize Japan Post around 2017, following a 10-year transitional period starting in 2007, according to the draft of an advisory panel's interim report released Wednesday.
The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will finalize the interim report by the end of April, government officials said.
The draft calls for allowing private-sector regional financial institutions to "coexist" with Japan Post, which also provides financial services and has a strong competitive edge due to its nationwide network of deposit-taking post offices.