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E-Government, Policy, Technology

Japan to invest US$3bn in ICT

By Alice Kok | 7 April 2009

The Japanese government plans to inject 3 trillion yen (US$29.8 billion) into ICT infrastructure over the next three years in a bid to boost growth in the sector.

The three-year Emergency Plan was devised by the government’s IT Strategic Headquarters to foster growth in both the public and private sectors.

The government has calculated that this investment will have a knock-on effect of 4.7 trillion yen and lead to the creation of between 400,000 and 500,000 jobs.

The headquarters—headed by Prime Minister Taro Aso—is formally known as the Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society.

The plan will be formalised in early April. Under this plan, the government will invest heavily in three major projects: electronic central and local government, healthcare and, education and human resources.

In first project, the government plans to introduce “electronic” post office boxes from which citizens and businesses can access personal information online. The cost savings made from reducing paper documentation will be invested in new infrastructural investment, and the use of non-regular employees.

In the healthcare project, the government wants to develop a framework in which medical care can be provided from remote locations, promoting the introduction of electronic medical records and revitalising community healthcare.

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