The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced plans to make subscription-based services provided by Japanese companies eligible for official development assistance. The aim is to support disaster preparedness and public safety in developing countries through satellite-based digital services and other solutions, while promoting the overseas expansion of Japanese companies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced plans to make subscription services provided by Japanese companies eligible for ODA. The policy will be specified in the FY2027 budget request, with the aim of supporting developing countries through assistance in the digital sector and promoting the overseas expansion of Japanese companies.
Specifically, the government is considering AI-powered satellite image analysis services that visualize disaster risks and the extent of damage, enabling the information to be used for response and recovery efforts. It plans to propose these services to Pacific island countries and other regions where natural disasters are occurring more frequently as a result of global warming. Facial recognition systems for public safety, cybersecurity services, and cloud services designed to digitalize government administration are also under consideration.
ODA assistance to date has centered on providing software, but the cost of system upgrades has been a challenge. The government explains that a subscription model can reduce costs by avoiding the need to purchase dedicated software outright and allows the services to be revised flexibly to meet the needs of developing countries.
As the United States and China actively promote advanced technologies as part of their strategies for supporting developing countries, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there is room for Japanese companies to enter the competition.