Digital Minister Kono attended the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2024
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Published on May 8, 2004
Digital Minister Kono attended the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting held in Paris on May 2 and 3, 2024.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its accession to the OECD, Japan chaired the 2024 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting under the theme of "Co-creating the Flow of Change: Leading Global Discussions with Objective and Reliable Approaches towards Sustainable and Inclusive Growth".
Digital Minister Kono chaired the "DFFT (Data Free Flow with Trust), Data Governance and Security" session on the 3rd. He led the discussion on international data governance and the direction of the IAP (the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership), which was established with the endorsement of the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
Overview of the meeting
Session: “DFFT, Data Governance, Security” on May 3, 2024, chaired by Digital Minister Kono.
The IAP is embodied by creating a dual mechanism of an Expert Community as well as a committee of the governments to advance international data governance. During the session, the member countries reached shared understanding of the need to gradually strengthening both elements, the Expert Community and the committee.
The session started with the opening remarks by Digital Minister Kono and the OECD Secretary-General Cormann. Minister Kono stated that he would like to facilitate the discussion on the future direction towards gradually reinforcing the IAP by reaching a commitment to strengthen the relevant committee structure on data governance, which serves as a platform for cooperation among member countries, as well as promoting concrete projects through the DFFT Expert Community launched last December. He insisted that to promote the IAP as the hub of the international data governance, it would be desirable to promote collaboration between the OECD and regional organizations such as ASEAN and foster complementarity with bilateral data collaboration among member countries. He also mentioned that ASEAN is showing a strong interest in collaborating with the IAP and explained that ASEAN countries and business communities are also particularly interested in the project to increase legal transparency on data transfer rules.
Based on the opening remarks, the participating OECD members and partner countries, invited organizations and advisory groups exchanged views and adopted a ministerial statement that includes the following agreed contents.
- We value the OECD’s leading role in advancing Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT), in promoting cross-border data flows and in providing expert analysis on the digital economy, including analytical work regarding challenges to the free flow of data.
- We encourage work to facilitate trusted data flows and welcome the Expert Community.
- We commit to initiating discussions on enhancing visibility of data governance and privacy and the possible options of further strengthening the relevant committee structure.
Related Link
Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level
Bilateral meetings
Taking the opportunity of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, Digital Minister Kono held bilateral meetings and talks with representatives of participating countries and international organizations.
1. ASEAN
During a meeting with Dr. Kao, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, as a follow-up to the “Ministerial Session on the Future of Data Governance in Asia” held in February of this year, they discussed the current situation of data governance initiatives in ASEAN. They exchanged views on Japan-ASEAN cooperation to connect the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is currently being negotiated in ASEAN, with DFFT, as well as the collaboration between ASEAN and OECD/IAP including through implementing the joint project to enhance legal transparency in cross-border data flows.
(Meeting with Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN)
2. Türkiye
During a meeting with Mr. Şimşek, the Minister of Treasury and Finance, they discussed the importance of Japan and Türkiye working together to lead international discussions on DFFT/IAP and data governance. They also exchanged views on strengthening the OECD organization, including the establishment of a new committee on data governance, and bilateral cooperation in the digital economy.
(Meeting with Mr. Mehmet Şimşek, the Minister of Treasury and Finance)
3. Business at OECD
During a meeting with Mr. Inagaki, an Executive Board Member of Business at OECD (BIAC), they exchanged views on discussions aimed at strengthening the OECD’s organization, including the establishment of a new committee on data governance. They also discussed specific areas of interest and expected initiatives from industry perspective for projects to be implemented under the DFFT Expert Community, including enhancing legal transparency in cross-border data flows.
(Meeting with Mr. Seiji Inagaki, an Executive Board Member, BIAC)
4. Laos
During a meeting with Mr. Saleumxay, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, they exchanged views on strengthening Japan-ASEAN collaboration to promote DFFT and discussed Japan-Laos bilateral cooperation in the digital field.
(Meeting with Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs）
5. Indonesia
During a meeting with Mr. Airlangga, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, as a follow-up to the “Ministerial Session on the Future of Data Governance in Asia” held in February of this year, they discussed the current situation of data governance initiatives in Indonesia and ASEAN. They exchanged views on Japan-Indonesia and Japan-ASEAN cooperation to connect the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) with DFFT, as well as the collaboration between ASEAN and OECD/IAP including through implementing the joint project to enhance legal transparency in cross-border data flows. They also discussed cross-border payments, countermeasures for digital platform providers and the development of the startups in the digital field.
(Meeting with Mr. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs)
6. European Union
During a meeting with Mr. Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology at the European Commission, they confirmed to further strengthening the Japan-EU cooperation, based on the Digital Partnership and the recently signed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Digital Identity. They also affirmed the importance of collaboration between Japan and the EU to promote DFFT/IAP, including working together towards further strengthening the OECD’s organization including the possibility of establishment of a new committee on data governance as agreed in the MOC. They also acknowledged the significance of extending the successes of Japan-EU bilateral cooperation as best practices to multilateral forums such as the OECD.
(Mr. Roberto Viola Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission)
In addition, a brief exchange of views took place with the representatives of Singapore, Greece, Vietnam and Croatia.