The government will likely privatize more than 20 independent administrative institutions that are not as financially dependent on the government as others, sources said. A reorganization and rationalization plan for independent administrative institutions, including the privatization, will be drawn up by the end of this year to be finalized by the Cabinet.

The institutions to be privatized include the Japan Mint, the National Printing Bureau, and the Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition 1970.

The proposed privatization of the Japan Mint, which produces coins, and the National Printing Bureau, which prints Bank of Japan notes, is expected to arouse controversy as the plan must address such issues as how to protect the secrets involved in both institutions’ operations.