World Economic Series: Rebooting the Economy, Japanese Ambassador – 1st July 2020
The Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Mr Yasumasa Nagamine, led the second instalment of the World Economic Series: Rebooting the World Economy, supported by Mr Naoki Ota, technology advisor to the Japanese Government.
The event was attended by more than 300 participants worldwide.
Main points from Mr Nagamine included Japan’s rapid response to the pandemic, and the measures taken that resulted in minimal deaths and infections, with heavy emphasis on contact tracing. Japan’s economic response to the pandemic was also considered, particularly fluctuations in the country’s IMF forecasts and supplementary budgets for emergency support for individuals and a recovery programme for sectors.
The importance of free trade was highlighted in this discussion, with Mr Nagamine concluding by reinforcing the need for international co-operation as a tool to reboot the world economy.
Mr Ota discussed data ownership and privacy concerns surrounding today’s digital technologies in Japan. Japan’s Super Cities concept that will boost growth through the use of digital technologies may only go ahead if Japanese citizens have data ownership, to eliminate privacy concerns.
The importance of contact tracing was reemphasised, especially to aid issues surrounding society and the economy, not just within the healthcare sector. This type of digital technology transformation is prevalent in Japan, with increased numbers of digital projects and services being introduced, slowly allowing Japan to return to its new normal. This entails virtual meetings and international visits, and the importance of a partnership between Japan and the UK in the future.
The discussion was followed by a Q&A session covering topics ranging from free trade vs domestic supply and healthcare supplies, to 5G and green technologies and infrastructure in other countries, concluding with the consensus that cooperation and relationships between societies will be a valuable factor in resolving issues such as the current crisis.The Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Mr Yasumasa Nagamine, led the second instalment of the World Economic Series: Rebooting the World Economy, supported by Mr Naoki Ota, technology advisor to the Japanese Government.
The event was attended by more than 300 participants worldwide.
Main points from Mr Nagamine included Japan’s rapid response to the pandemic, and the measures taken that resulted in minimal deaths and infections, with heavy emphasis on contact tracing. Japan’s economic response to the pandemic was also considered, particularly fluctuations in the country’s IMF forecasts and supplementary budgets for emergency support for individuals and a recovery programme for sectors.
The importance of free trade was highlighted in this discussion, with Mr Nagamine concluding by reinforcing the need for international co-operation as a tool to reboot the world economy.
Mr Ota discussed data ownership and privacy concerns surrounding today’s digital technologies in Japan. Japan’s Super Cities concept that will boost growth through the use of digital technologies may only go ahead if Japanese citizens have data ownership, to eliminate privacy concerns.
The importance of contact tracing was reemphasised, especially to aid issues surrounding society and the economy, not just within the healthcare sector. This type of digital technology transformation is prevalent in Japan, with increased numbers of digital projects and services being introduced, slowly allowing Japan to return to its new normal. This entails virtual meetings and international visits, and the importance of a partnership between Japan and the UK in the future.
The discussion was followed by a Q&A session covering topics ranging from free trade vs domestic supply and healthcare supplies, to 5G and green technologies and infrastructure in other countries, concluding with the consensus that cooperation and relationships between societies will be a valuable factor in resolving issues such as the current crisis.