Japan overhauls its biggest public pension fund

One of the largest pension funds is set for changes. The Japanese government announced a reshuffle of the Investment Committee of the Government Pension Investment Fund. The world's biggest financial institution will follow a more aggressive investment strategy, make riskier investments, and rely less on low-yielding government bonds. Health Minister Norihisa Tamura appointed new committee members reducing the panel from 10 to 8. Three current members have experience in such activity as they worked as financial consultants in the Pension Fund. The Prime Minister is trying to make the transitional period fast and easy, without any shakes. The government believes such serious financial institution can achieve brighter results. Today, the target investments of the Fund are 12% of Japanese shares, 60% of government bonds, 11% of foreign obligations, 12% of foreign shares, and 5% of short-term assets. The overall volume of the funds is $1.26 trillion. It is bigger than Mexico's economy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised GPIF reform as an element of his growth strategy, the "third arrow" in his policy, following aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus. International watchers mention a long-lasting 20-year period of stagnation in the third global economy, however recent years have given hope – the economy saw a rise of 1,5%, which definitely is a praise of Abe's Cabinet reforms.