As of 28 June, 2021
Japan-ASEAN Digital Workshop
1. Objective
ASEAN member states and Japan have been working closely in promoting digitalization tofurther enhance the connectivity and growth of the regional economy. One of the key issues
is cross-border data transfer, and there has been growing convergence among regulatory
approaches to reap the benefits of data flows while meeting legitimate public policy objectives1,
which can also be deemed as realizing Data Free-Flow with Trust (DFFT). In line with theongoing regional dialogues between APEC and RCEP members as well as at the global levelsuch as the WTO E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative, G20 and OECD, this workshop
aims to share the experiences of ASEAN member states and Japan to bring innovative
discussions in the context of the ASEAN-Japan relations and to facilitate DFFT. The
workshop is open not only to the government officials of the member states and ASEAN
Secretariat (ASEC) but also to participants from the industry to welcome constructive ideas
and business perspectives.
2. Participants-

Digital related government officials from 10 ASEAN member states (AMS)-ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC)-Digital related industry executives, trade associations

3. Program Outline
This workshop is designed as a substitute of a training and exchange program originallyplanned in 2020 inviting selected ASEAN government officials. Given prolonged global
pandemic, the organizer CFIEC decided to hold half day online workshops as an alternativeof the original program.

Taking advantage of this online event, in addition to the core

participants (digital related government officials), their colleagues and stakeholders (business,academia, etc.) who are interested in the realization of DFFT and/or digitalization arewelcomed to sign up to this workshop. (prior registration is necessary)
Date : 29 June 2021. Tuesday
Time: From 15:00 to 18:00 (JST).

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4. Agenda (subject to change)
Subtitle: Issues and Outlook on realizing DFFT
Time (JST), Subject

Contents

Presenter/Facilitator

14:50-

Registration (on-line) (Teams)

15:00-15:05

Opening remarks

Akira Kojima, President,(5 min.)CFIEC, Japan
Junichiro Kuroda, DirectorGeneral, Multilateral Trade
System Dept., METI Japan

15:05-15:20

Case study on the importance of DFFT for

Hiroaki Tsumori, Project(15 min.)expanding business overseas and making

Manager (Traffic Counter),Business perspective

investment decisions

Murata Manufacturing Co.,on DFFT
15:20-15:40

Ltd.
ASEAN business perspectives:

Stan Singh, PIKOM(10 min. x 2)

Counsellor, Malaysia/

ASEAN business

APICTA Chairman

perspectives
Nattida Sanguansin Pink,
Managing Director,
Buzzebees Co., Ltd, Thailand
15:40-15:55

Introduce Japanese government initiatives onRyoji Uchida, Deputy(15 min.)

DFFT and share views on related issues

Director-General for Digital

DFFT: the(including WTO JSI on E-commerce)

Trade Policy, METI Japan

15:55-16:10

Japan’s legal framework of personal data

Yoichiro Itakura, Attorney at(15 min.)protection and DFFT

Law, Hikari Sogoh Law

experience of Japan

Personal Data

Offices,Protection

Member of Board ofDirectors, CFIEC

16:10-16:40

Overview of Japan’s domestic frameworks

Takuma Yamagishi, Assistant(30 min.)related to e-commerce (e.g. consumer

Director, Multilateral Trade

Domestic

protection, spam regulation, cybersecurity,

System Dept., METI Japanframeworks relatedtaxation)

to E-commerce
16:40-16:55

Latest policy framework and initiatives inLe Quang Lan, Head of(15 min.)

ASEAN to facilitate DFFT (e.g. ASEAN data

Division, ICT & Tourism

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ASEAN regionaltransfer mechanisms)

Division, ASEAN Secretariat

initiatives
16:55-17:55(ASEC)-(60 min.)Discussion among-participants

Perspectives on challenges related toFacilitator:

digitalization and global rule-making

Toru Kajiwara, Director,

Possible way forward (including int’lServices Trade Division,cooperation) on addressing

Economic Affairs Bureau,developmental issues regarding

MOFA Japandigitalization-QAs plus takeaways

Discussants:
All the participants--------------------------------------------Q1. What are the participants' views on
foreign platform businesses and big-techindustries? Are they posing a threat tothe economy, or providing benefits toconsumers and businesses?
Q2. Are there concerns on global digitaltrade rule-making (e.g. restrictions on
cross-border data transfer and data
localization, protection of proprietary
information such as source code)?
Q3. What are the developmental
challenges on digitalization that need tobe addressed? How can the global
community tackle them?
--------------------------------------------17:55-18:00

Closing Remarks & Conclusions(5 min.)Expected speakers could provide insightful ideas and share information on the current issues
and actual applications within their country / industry represented and/or region-wide.
*Time difference between Japan and ASEAN member countries:1 hour to 2.5 hours.
*Language: English3