# Section 6 Promotion of International Strategy

### 1. Promotion of international policy

## (1) Support for international business

With the aim of strategically supporting the international business activities of private companies in the fields of digital broadcasting, next-generation IP networks and wireless communications, in which Japan has a particular strength, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) set up the ICT Office for International Promotion under the ICT International Competitiveness Council in January 2007.

Specific activities of this office in the three fields mentioned above include (1) comprehensive support and a contact point for launching the international activities of ICT companies, (2) implementation of various dissemination and enlightenment activities and (3) collection and organization of useful information from other countries and the sharing of such information among industry, academia and government. Specific achievements have already been observed: for instance, the launch of terrestrial digital broadcasting services in Brazil, where Japan’s technology systems have been adopted.

The MIC has also been making efforts to strengthen the presence of Japan internationally to gain an advantage in negotiations for technological standardization, as well as to develop a competitive environment for telecommunication markets in Asia and others in bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

## (2) Promotion of international developments in Asia/Pacific region

The MIC has been making various efforts concerning the promotion of international policy in the Asia/Pacific region, which included cooperation with the member countries of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Third ASEAN-Japan ICT Ministers Meeting was held in Indonesia in August 2008 and the ASEAN-Japan ICT Work Plan for 2008-2009 was adopted, which includes comprehensive cooperation measures in the ICT sector between Japan and ASEAN. It was the first work plan in the ICT sector to include specific measures adopted by Japan and ASEAN countries. Currently, efforts towards the steady implementation of the plan are under way between Japan and ASEAN.

In February 2009, the First ASEAN-Japan Information Security Policy Meeting was held in Tokyo. With the participation of high-level officials from Japan and ASEAN member countries, an agreement was made on the Framework for Japan-ASEAN Cooperation in Information Security, which is a medium- and long-term strategy showing the direction of cooperation between Japan and ASEAN in information security.

## (3) Promotion of international developments among international institutions and multiple nations (except for Asia-Pacific region)

### A. Enhancement of strategic activities for international standardization

As active efforts are being made by China and Korea, in addition to western countries, to standardize ICT areas of remarkable technological innovation, if Japan aspires to enhance its international competitiveness in the ICT field, it is essential to elucidate target technologies and systems for international business activities based on the needs of relevant countries and to proceed with strategic activities in cooperation with industry, academia and government, covering a range of activities, from international standardization to the production of technologies and sales of systems in international markets. Hence, in August 2007, the MIC consulted the Information and Communications Council about ICT R&D and the Standardization Strategy to Enhance Japan's International Competitiveness, and a report was released in June 2008 with the following three measures for enhancing international standardization activities: (1) ICT standardization strategy map in the prioritized technological areas where Japan should make efforts toward international standardization and a policy for formulating an ICT patent map, (2) method for developing human resources engaged in international standardization activities, and (3) establishment of a center for ICT standardization and intellectual properties that controls these standardization activities through cooperation between the government, industry and academia. The MIC intends to strengthen strategic international standardization activities, led by the ICT Standardization and Intellectual Property Promotion Center (iSIPc).