Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO476
2009-03-03 01:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

U.S. BUSINESS RECOMMENDS INFO-TECH STIMULUS

Tags:  ECPS EINT TINT PGOV JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000476 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/CIP AND EAP/J
STATE PASS USTR FOR EHOLLOWAY, JMCHALE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS EINT TINT PGOV JA
SUBJECT: U.S. BUSINESS RECOMMENDS INFO-TECH STIMULUS
MEASURES TO JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

TOKYO 00000476 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000476

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/CIP AND EAP/J
STATE PASS USTR FOR EHOLLOWAY, JMCHALE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS EINT TINT PGOV JA
SUBJECT: U.S. BUSINESS RECOMMENDS INFO-TECH STIMULUS
MEASURES TO JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

TOKYO 00000476 001.2 OF 002



1. The American Chamber of Commerce (ACCJ) recently
recommended several near-term information technology (IT)
measures the Japanese government might adopt to stimulate the
economy. Suggested measures cover areas such as supporting
SMEs and facilitating online commerce, improving utilization
in fields such as healthcare, education, e-government, and
energy, and improving IT procurement and deployment. The
ACCJ delivered its recommendations February 20 as part of a
public comment process to the IT Policy Office and in
response to a request for US business input from senior
Japanese officials.


2. The "ACCJ Recommendations for Short Term IT Investment
and Deployment" elaborate on a fairly narrow list of
short-term steps and seek to contribute to ongoing
discussions about stimulating Japan's economy. The
recommendations also draw from a more comprehensive study of
Japan's Internet Economy the ACCJ plans to release in late
spring. Some of these topics had been raised in annual
strategic plans by Japan's IT Strategy Headquarters.


3. The following is a short summary of ACCJ recommendations,
the elaborated submission will be available via the Japan
Economic Scope
(http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/je s/). The ACCJ's
recommendations reflect a view Japan lags considerably in
Internet utilization and that establishing infrastructure
alone is not enough to realize the potential of the Internet
economy.

--------------
ACCJ Recommendations
--------------


A. Increasing Aid to Small and Medium Enterprises:

Recommendation: Organize conferences throughout Japan and
invite Japanese and foreign companies offering products and
services facilitating online commerce to lead workshops to
assist SMEs in marketing their products and services globally.

Recommendation: Target government subsidies to promote SME
new business activities such as mobile virtual network
operators.


B. Promoting Online Commerce:

Recommendation: Temporarily suspend, during the economic
crisis, consumption tax for purchases of goods or services
online.

Recommendation: Reject the proposal to prohibit sales of
"over the counter" drugs online.


C. Updating Healthcare:

Recommendation: Offer full reimbursement of associated costs
for introduction of standardized electronic health records
for hospitals of 400 beds or less.

Recommendation: Revise fee schedules and subsidize equipment
acquisition to promote diagnosis and treatment of diseases.


D. Equipping the Classroom:

Recommendation: Replace computers that are more than seven
years old in elementary and middle school classrooms with new
broadband-capable notebook computers.

Recommendation: Install a wireless network in elementary and
middle schools throughout Japan.


E. Utilizing E-Government:


TOKYO 00000476 002.2 OF 002


Recommendation: Introduce available "Open ID" technology
across government websites to facilitate citizen access and
greater interoperability.


F. Promoting Green IT:

Recommendation: Adopt incentives for investment in more
efficient energy transmission and distribution grids.

Recommendation: Expand incentives to households to install
solar energy panels.


G. Assuring Efficiency in IT Procurement and Deployment:

Recommendation: Support continuing efforts to implement
phased procurement as required in the 2007 Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications Guidelines.

Recommendation: Establish a professional certification
process for chief information officers (CIO).
ZUMWALT