#Japan #Tokyo #Ministry of Internal Affairs #Independent Administrative Institution #Evaluation Committee

Overview

On July 10, 2023, the 71st meeting of the Independent Administrative Institution Evaluation Committee was held at the Central Government Building No. 2, with a focus on evaluating and discussing changes to the mid-term and long-term objectives set for various government-affiliated organizations. The meeting was attended by a committee of experts, representatives from various ministries, and was partially conducted via web conferencing for public transparency.

Attendance

The meeting included key members such as Mitsue Kurihara, Chair of the Evaluation Committee, Katsumi Kanaoka, Deputy Chair, and various expert committee members. They were joined by the secretariat led by the Minister’s Cabinet Policy Planning Director Nishinaka and others.

Agenda

The main agenda item was the discussion of changes to the mid-term and long-term targets across four specific organizations, which included:

• - The Workers’ Health and Safety Organization (JOHAS) under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,
• - The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
• - The Information Processing Promotion Organization (IPA) under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
• - The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) also under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Important Discussions

1. Workers’ Health and Safety Organization (JOHAS)

Mitsuhisa Matsukuma, a management officer from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, introduced changes aimed at addressing the deteriorating financial conditions of JOHAS, as a consequence of post-COVID funding drips and increased operational costs. The proposed changes include:

• - Each workers’ hospital should establish an improvement plan by fiscal year 2023.
• - For hospitals struggling to achieve profitability, regional discussions will be utilized to consider restructuring solutions.
• - Hospitals that fail to improve by 2024 will be required to continue efforts for recovery in the following fiscal periods.

2. National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)

Matsumoto, the managing officer, noted that the recent surge in food supply vulnerability and climate change concerns prompted a need for NARO to adjust its objectives. As a result, the recent Food System Law will see support from NARO in promoting sustainable food production, including partnerships with certified food businesses for research and resources.

3. Information Processing Promotion Organization (IPA)

Watanabe, representing the Ministry of Economy, conveyed that changes arise from the Cybersecurity Response Ability Enhancement Law, leading to additional responsibilities for the IPA. The new objectives reflect:

• - Financial support measures for semiconductor manufacturing.
• - Enhancements in training for digital human resources.
• - Development in cybersecurity frameworks.

4. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)

JOGMEC's redefined goals, discussed by Watanabe, align with the new energy policy concluded earlier in February, aiming to bolster geothermal and coal resource development markedly.

• - The new exploration commitments for geothermal sites align with the targets set in the Seventh Energy Basic Plan.

Conclusion

Chair Mitsue Kurihara led the session towards concluding remarks, emphasizing the need for ongoing regional collaborations and efficiency in execution moving forward. The findings from this meeting suggest robust discussions that reflect substantial reforms and an adaptive stance to current economic challenges faced by independent administrative organizations.
The meeting closed with a plan to reconvene on October 22, 2023, to assess improvements and operational enhancements based on the newly defined targets.