Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > February, 2005

The 29th Meeting of the IT Strategic Headquarters Thursday, February 24, 2005 The 29th meeting of the IT Strategic Headquarters was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the "IT Policy Package 2005: Towards the Realization of the World's Most Advanced IT Nation" was decided. Upon establishing the goal for "Japan to become the world's most advanced IT nation within five years (by the end of 2005)" in the "e-Japan Strategy" decided at the first meeting of the IT Strategic Headquarters in January 2001, the public and private sectors together have been expending great efforts in implementing various measures to achieve this goal. As a result, stunning achievements have been made. For example, Internet service in Japan is the fastest and cheapest in the world and its e-commerce market is growing to a scale only second to the United States. As we have entered the target year, the Headquarters has established the "IT Policy Package 2005" to further enhance measures mainly in the areas closely related to the peoples' daily lives, including administrative service, medical care and education. The IT Strategic Headquarters will work to realize a society in which people can experience the change and enjoy the benefits brought upon by IT. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi participated in the international symposium on the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which was held at the same time as this meeting of the IT Strategic Headquarters, via Internet from the Prime Minister's Official Residence. He delivered a message, saying that, "It is truly remarkable to be able to participate in an international meeting with my counterparts in Asia via Internet." In closing the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Thanks to all your efforts, we were able to take a significant step forward to achieving our goal to 'realize the world's most advanced IT nation.'"