Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says he aims to double government grants for regional revitalization in a draft budget for next fiscal year, which starts in April.

Ishiba on Friday was speaking at an inaugural meeting of a task force for reinvigorating regional economies. All Cabinet members attended.

He stressed that such revitalization is his Cabinet's top issue and will bring results that give people in urban areas more choices for work, learning and leisure.

Ishiba also announced a plan to launch a panel of experts to draw up basic ideas for regional revitalization this year.

The panel will be made up of people from the business world, public office, academia including students, the financial sector, labor unions and media.

Ishiba indicated that the government will also provide grants during the current fiscal year to support projects designed to add more value to the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism industries.

The prime minister added that he hopes the ministers and panel members will visit regional communities as much as possible.