日本考慮在沖縄開経済特区?

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

防衛相「経済特区 跡地利用の参考に」

6月26日 22時19分

フィリピンを訪問中の小野寺防衛大臣は、アメリカ軍基地の跡地に設けられた経済特区を視察し、日米が合意している沖縄のアメリカ軍施設の返還を着実に進め、将来の跡地利用の参考にしたいという考えを示しました。

フィリピンを訪問している小野寺防衛大臣は、２６日午後、アジア最大級のアメリカ海軍基地の跡地で、現在は経済特区が設けられているルソン島のスービック地区を視察しました。
スービック地区は、１９９２年にアメリカ軍からフィリピンに返還されたあと、開発が進められ、日本や韓国など国内外から１０００社以上の企業が進出し、雇用はこの２０年間で３倍の９万人にまで増えたということです。
視察のあと、小野寺大臣は記者団に対し「特区では税の優遇措置が取られ、さまざまな企業が進出し、雇用も増えて経済も順調だということだった」と述べました。
そのうえで、小野寺大臣は「沖縄でも跡地が有効活用され、地域振興につながることがはっきりすれば、アメリカ軍施設の返還がさらに加速できるのではないか。政府一体となって知恵を出していきたい」と述べ、日米が合意している沖縄のアメリカ軍施設の返還を着実に進め、将来の跡地利用の参考にしたいという考えを示しました。

(試譯文)

Defense Minister Onodera who was visiting the Philippines inspected the special economic zone established in the former site of a U.S. Forces base; the return of the U.S. Forces facility in Okinawa which was agreed by Japan and the U.S. was advancing steadily; he showed the idea of making it as a reference on the future use of the Okinawa site to be received.

In the afternoon of the 26^th (June) Defense Minister Onodera who was visiting the Philippines inspected the Subic area in Luzon which now was a special economic zone. The zone established at this former site and was once the biggest U.S. naval base in Asia.

It was said that after the Subic area was returned to the Philippines from the U.S. Forces in 1992, the development was progressing, 1000 or more companies marched in from other countries such as Japan and South Korea. In 20 years the employment even increased 3 times to 90,000 people.

Minister Onodera told the press corps after the inspection that "I hear that in this special area, tax preferential treatment is given, various companies march in, the employment also increases, and the economy is also favorable".

Furthermore, Minister Onodera said that “in Okinawa the former site should be used effectively. If it could be clarified that it may lead to regional improvement, may be the return of the U.S. Forces facility should be further accelerated. I would like to take out the wisdom with the concerted efforts of the government". Under the agreement between Japan and the U.S., the return of the U.S. Forces facility in Okinawa was advancing steadily. This showed that, as a reference, there was a hope to get some idea on the future use of the former site.

I am interested in knowing whether there will be a special economic zone in Okinawa.