The Japanese Government has launched a new Public Service Agency aimed at spearheading the development of online delivery in the bureaucracy and integrating IT systems across Departments.
The Agency, which began operating this month (September), was a major policy priority for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga who planned to personally head the initiative aimed at propelling the Government’s antiquated IT systems and paper-based services into the digital era.
However, Mr Suga has since announced his resignation as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party following record low poll ratings prompted by the Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result Minister for Digital Transformation, Takuya Hirai (pictured), who led preparations for the new Agency, will head it for the time being, with former manager with consultancy firm McKinsey & Co, Yoko Ishikura named as its Chief Officer.
Mr Hirai said it was critical to change the mindset of officials across Government Departments and Agencies.
“We are in an era where digitalisation matters to every policy, and Japan needs to accept that its IT policies have failed in the past,” Mr Hirai said.
He cited the 2020 Digital Competitiveness Ranking compiled by IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, which ranked the country 27th out of 64 countries worldwide.
“This means there’s a lot to catch up on. We hope to connect digitalisation efforts with the growth strategy in various ways,” the Minister said.
The Digital Agency is to lead the development of interoperable IT systems across the Public Service.
It has 600 employees, four times the number in the IT Strategic Headquarters it replaces, with 130 staff members drawn from the private sector to bring in cutting-edge tech expertise.
The Agency aims to digitalise and standardise procedures across 31 administrative divisions, developing online services using a 12-digit identification code for citizens called My Number.
Its first challenge will be to develop a system of digital vaccine passports by the end of the year for people who are travelling abroad.
Tokyo, 10 September 2021
