The global IT revolution is a revolution in communications. The economies of scale associated with commerce in goods, content and services via cyberspace cannot be realized if we are unable to share information widely. In this sense, the development of infrastructure on the receiving side offers specific economic benefits, not only to the recipient country but also to taxpayers on the sending side. Economic assistance that seeks to close the digital divide solely for humanitarian reasons is not sustainable and is unlikely to continue. It is important to begin by recognizing that the world economy will benefit from growth in the number of people with net connections and computer literacy.
Japan is one of the world's biggest donors of economic aid.
As much as possible of Japan's official development assistance should be shifted toward IT-related areas. This is a priority that requires immediate action. Second, what I call, 'the Asia eGovernment Initiative' should be promoted by Japan. Another characteristic of the global IT revolution is the fact that it is occurring simultaneously throughout the world, rather than as a ripple effect spreading out from advanced nations to emerging economies and finally to developing countries, taking decades of time. Within a year of its appearance in the United States, the net auction business model had spread to China.