On Monday 31 October 2022, the UK and Japan signed a Memorandum
of Cooperation (MoC) to deepen ties on digital government
transformation.
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The UK was represented remotely by Minister and in-person by Government
Digital Service CEO Tom Read. Japan was represented by
Digital Transformation Minister KONO Taro and the ceremony took
place in Tokyo.
The MoC establishes links between the UK’s Government Digital
Service (GDS) and Japan’s Digital Agency. The two agencies will
work together to exchange knowledge and strategies to promote the
adoption, design and diffusion of digital tools and services
across public sectors in the UK and Japan.
Cooperation will also focus on sharing best practices in training
and building technical capabilities across government departments
and agencies, and delivering greater efficiencies in government
procurement and spending.
To coincide with the MoC signing, the UK has sent a delegation of
digital experts to take part in workshops, teach-ins and policy
exchanges with Japan’s Digital Agency.
UK’s Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General,
Minister said:
The UK and Japan are two of the largest, most advanced economies
in the world, with thriving tech sectors and clear ambitions to
become world leaders in digital. By sharing expertise in areas
like digital government transformation, we look to support each
other in delivering better services and unlocking greater
opportunities for our citizens and businesses.
Japan’s Digital Transformation Minister KONO Taro said:
The UK is an important partner for Japan and we are working
together to maximise the benefits of digital. We are happy to
welcome the GDS delegation as we have learned from the UK’s
experience in delivering our own digital government initiatives,
like the establishment of the Digital Agency. By sharing
expertise and lessons learned, we are assisting each other in
promoting digital transformation in the government and across
society to ensure no one is left behind.
The MoC comes after the UK and Japan announced deepening
digital collaboration in May 2022, which covers all facets of
joint digital priorities including digital infrastructure, data,
digital regulation and standards as well as digital
transformation.
