The Japan-Belgium Second Working Group on Information Communication Technology and Digital Transformation (ICT&DT) on December 15, 2023
On December 5, 2022, Mr. Kono Taro, Minister for Digital Transformation and Mr. Mathieu Michel, Secretary of State for Digitalization, in charge of Administrative Simplification, Privacy and the Buildings Administration, attached to the Prime Minister held a meeting at the Digital Agency in Japan and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of Information Communication Technology and the Digital Transformation (ICT&DT).
On that occasion, the first Working Group was held, where digital experts from the Federal Public Service Policy and Support (FPS BOSA)of Belgium and the responsible at the Digital Agency exchanged views and shared practical and technical knowledge on the issues such as Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) , Government Cloud Services, DIW research study and PoC for eID/mDL, and the utilization of advanced technologies “Web 3.0“.
After the Working Group, both countries continued sharing their knowledge both online and in person in several areas. On December 15, 2023, a second Working Group was held online between FPS BOSA and the Digital Agency.
The following is a summary of the interactive exchanges as well as the discussions that took place during the second Working Group in 2023.
1. eID & eWallet
On November 20, 2023, digital Identity experts from the Digital Agency visited FPS BOSA and received explanation on the progress and efforts of implementing the EU Digital Identity Wallet in Belgium and exchanged opinions. They also received the latest information on Belgium's EU DIW initiatives, and shared and discussed the technical challenges currently being considered by both Japan and Belgium in relation to DIW.
On December 15, 2023, during the second Working Group, the Directorate-General Simplification & Digitalisation of FPS BOSA presented its current work about “my.Gov.be”, a Belgium DIW, project related to the European ambition of offering to all EU citizens the possibility to have an EU Digital Identity Wallet, and exchanged opinions.
2. Government Cloud
- On December 15, 2023, during the second Working Group, the Government Cloud team of the Digital Agency introduced their initiatives and exchanged opinions.
Reference：Government Cloud
3. Inclusion best practice
- On December 15, 2023, during the second Working Group, the Directorate-General Simplification & Digitalisation (Transformation, Innovation & Inclusion) of FPS BOSA introduced "Connectoo", a training tool for bridging the digital divide, and exchanged opinions.
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4. Peppol e-invoice
- On July 4, 2023, Peppol Authorities in each jurisdiction, FPS BOSA and Digital Agency, had a collaborative webinar to share the good practices of Peppol e-invoice initiative. Especially, the experiences to promote Peppol e-invoice use for B2G transaction would be a good “lesson” for Japan side.
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These achievements demonstrate tangible progress in cooperation and the sharing of best practices in policy, technology, and research related to ICT & DT, as outlined in the MoC.
Both countries intend to meet again in 2024 to continue sharing their best practices and promote cooperation based on the MoC.