carried out human resources development measures including seminars and training for assistance in creating policies and institutions in developing countries. Through Japan-China-Korea and ASEAN-plus-Three (Japan, China and Republic of Korea (ROK)) frameworks, international organizations and other forums, Japan has tried to enhance international understanding and coordination on these assistance measures.

The e-Japan Strategy II Acceleration Package, which was adopted at the 19th meeting of the IT Strategic Headquarters in July 2003, called for the steady promotion of the "Asian Broadband Project" as a key pillar of the international strategy and put forward the "Asia IT Initiative (AITI)" for implementation of comprehensive and conformable measures including those other than those covered by the project. Based on this initiative, Japan prepared a joint communiqué with Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia about IT-related cooperation and confirmed the promotion of cooperation programs along with these nations on the occasion of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting held in Tokyo in December 2003. For the implementation of the AITI, Japan has established the AITI Task Force at the Cabinet Secretariat to unify and promote efforts for the preparation of draft comprehensive and conformable policies and for negotiations and coordination with Asian countries. The task force consists of relevant government and other agencies and has country-by-country working groups, which are now considering specifics of cooperation programs for the three countries that have reached agreement with Japan on such cooperation.

## (5) Promotion of Trade and Investment

Foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade can contribute to invigorating the private sector and economic development of developing countries. The international community is growingly realizing that all financial resources including developing countries' domestic funds, private-sector funds including FDI, and trade, as well as ODA, must be mobilized for development of these countries. However, policy measures that governments of developing countries must implement to induce investment and invigorate trade are too enormous for many poor countries to implement. In this respect, other countries and international organizations must give assistance. Japan has utilized ODA and OOF (other official flows) to

## Chart II -19 Implementation of Japan's Comprehensive Cooperation Package to Address the International Digital Divide (FY 2003)

Projects Implemented through the Comprehensive Co-operation Package
(1) Intellectual contribution to policy and institution-building
Policy advice through dispatch of experts, plan formulation in individual sectors through development surveys, awareness raising and sharing of knowledge through the holding of seminars, etc.○ Indonesia: The Study on Intellectual Rights Administration through Utilization of Information and Communication Technology (development study)○ Thailand: ICT Policy (dispatch of experts), etc.
(2) Human resource development
Technical cooperation including dispatch of experts, acceptance of trainees, and third country training, etc., grant aid, including setting up of research and training centers, provision of equipment to educational and research organizations, etc.○ Myanmar: IT Training Institute (technical cooperation project)○ Viet Nam: In-Country Training Course on Office Automation and Computer Network for Managers (acceptance of trainees)○ Poland: Education of highly qualified IT specialists for Central Europe Countries in accordance to demands of the job market (third country training), etc.
(3) Building IT infrastructure and networking
Development of communications infrastructure such as wired, wireless and satellite communications, etc., support for media related facilities such as telephone, radio, television, the Internet, etc., ensuring electricity supplies in remote locations, support for development systems and ensuring financing, etc.○ Indonesia: Maritime Telecommunication System Development Project (IV) (loan aid)○ Afghanistan: The Project for Improvement of TV Broadcasting Facilities in Kabul (grant aid)○ China: Public Broadcasting Infrastructure Improvement Project (loan aid), etc.
(4) Promoting the utilization of IT in development assistance
Promotion of the utilization of IT in sectors such as remote training, remote education, etc.○ Fiji and other Pacific countries: Information and Communication Technologies (ITCs) Capacity Building at the University of the South Pacific, the project for Upgrade of USPNet Communication System (technical cooperation project, grant aid)○ Malaysia: Project on Networked Multimedia Education System (technical cooperation project)○ Distance technical cooperation (JICA-NET), etc.