Results of G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting
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Published on March 18, 2024
Updated on March 26, 2024
On March 14 and 15, 2024, the G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting was held in Verona and Trento, Italy, and Mr. Kono, Minister for Digital Transformation attended the meeting on March 15. The meeting was held as one of the relevant ministerial meetings of the G7 Summit and was attended by the G7 countries as well as invited countries and related international organizations.
Overview of the meeting
The G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting chaired by Italy took place on March 14 in Verona and March 15 in Trento, where G7 ministers held discussions on 1) AI and emerging technologies in industry, 2) Secure and resilient networks, Supply chains and key input factors, 3) Digital development, 4) AI in the public sector, 5) Advancing the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI process, and 6) Digital Government. The ministers also discussed the topic of data as cross-cutting elements of these themes.
Major details of the meeting on the 15th are as follows.
Toolkit for AI in the public sector
The ministers agreed to develop a Toolkit that helps map risks and opportunities and provides guidance to support enabling environments for safe, secure, and trustworthy AI in the public sector. They also agreed to explore the role of relevant public sector data to support governments developing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.
Advancing the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI process
The ministers confirmed their commitment to advancing the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process, including expanding support and awareness among key partners, organizations, and those in developing and emerging economies.
They also agreed to promote the dissemination of the International Guiding Principles and the International Code of Conduct, expand engagement with key partner countries and companies, develop tools and mechanisms to monitor the status of the application of the Code of Conduct, and collaborate with international organizations.
Digital Government
The ministers agreed to develop a Compendium of Digital Government Services and mapping exercises of Digital Identity Approaches of the G7 countries.
To continue building on the outcomes of Japan’s 2023 G7 Presidency, the ministers applaud the recent progress made in advancing DFFT through the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership (IAP), established under the OECD. The ministers also call on the IAP to collaborate with the G7 and look forward to further work to promote DFFT, while recognizing the importance of strengthening global data governance.
They also confirmed to remain committed to advancing the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI process and agreed that these outcomes will include the development of an AI Toolkit for the public sector and the creation of a Compendium with examples of digital government services, to be collected by the end of the year.
In the AI Toolkit, it was agreed to explore the role of relevant data in the public sector to support the development of safe, secure and trustworthy AI by governments.
As relevant data may include national and cross-border data, it seems essential to contemplate the cross-border data flows when considering the role of such data for the public sector. Therefore, the agreement among G7 to explore the role of public sector data that closely interconnected with AI and its cross-border flows holds great significance for operationalizing DFFT.
Ministerial Declaration and Annexes
- Ministerial Declaration: G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting（PDF／343KB）
- Annex 1: Joint Statement on Cable Connectivity for Secure and Resilient Digital Communications Networks（PDF／152KB）
- Annex 2: Toolkit for Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector （PDF／152KB）
- Annex 3: Advancing the Outcomes of the Hiroshima Artificial Intelligence Process （PDF／155KB）
- Annex 4：Compendium of Digital Government Services & Mapping Exercise of Digital Identity Approaches（PDF／111KB）
Bilateral meetings
Taking the opportunity of the G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Meeting, Minister Kono held bilateral meetings and exchanged views with representatives of participating countries and international organizations.
1. Canada
Minister Kono had a meeting with Mr. Champagne, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry. They discussed the progress of DFFT/IAP, cooperation in the G7, the use of AI in public administration, and the challenges it faces. They also discussed on cooperation towards the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting which Japan will chair in May 2024.
（Meeting with Mr. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry）
2. Italy
During the meeting with Mr. Butti, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Minister Kono discussed the progress of DFFT/IAP, the advancement of global data governance, the AI Toolkit, and digital public infrastructures. They also exchanged views on the follow-up of the Hiroshima AI Process.
(Meeting with Mr. Alessio Butti, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers）
3. South Korea
At the meeting with Mr. Koh, President of The Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government, Minister Kono discussed cooperation on DFFT/IAP and the progress of global data governance. South Korea is considering establishing a Digital Agency in their country, and Minister Kono explained the background and process of the Digital Agency in Japan, as well as its current initiatives.
(Meeting with Mr. Jean Koh, President, The Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government)
4. United States
Minister Kono exchanged views with Mr. Fick, Ambassador at Large for the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy on the progress of DFFT/IAP, the use of digital government, and data security. They also discussed the possibility of future cooperation between the OECD and Asian countries in terms of global data governance.
（Meeting with Mr. Nathaniel C. Fick, Ambassador at Large, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy）
5. European Union（EU）
During the meeting with Ms. Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Minister Kono discussed the progress of DFFT/IAP, the enhancement of AI governance, and the possibility of collaborating in the area of Digital ID. They also discussed cooperation towards the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting set for May 2024.
（Meeting with Ms. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President, European Commission）
In addition, during the G7 ministerial meetings, a brief exchange of views took place with Mr. Bhatti, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (U.K.), Dr. Wissing, the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport (Germany), and Mr. Gill, the Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations.