The ASEAN–Japan Centre, together with the OECD Tokyo Centre and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), will convene a half-day hybrid seminar entitled “Advancing Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) in ASEAN and Japan: Policy, Practice and Partnerships.” The event will be held both on-site at the ASEAN–Japan Centre in Tokyo and online via Zoom.
The seminar will survey the current DFFT landscape in both Japan and ASEAN, assess practical mechanisms for harmonizing governance approaches, and spotlight pioneering public-private initiatives. Key topics will include Japan’s institutional partnership with the OECD, ASEAN’s drive toward a common digital framework, and real-world case studies demonstrating how interoperable standards can fuel economic growth without compromising individual rights.
Over three focused sessions, senior officials, technical experts and representatives of leading national digital agencies will discuss regulatory innovation, technological interoperability and sector-specific applications ranging from government services to regional platforms.
Event Details & Registration
- Date & Time: Thursday, 31 July 2025 | 13:00–16:00 JST
- Format: Hybrid (in-person at ASEAN-Japan Centre, Tokyo; online via Zoom)
- Language: English with Japanese translation
- Registration: Please complete the registration form by Tuesday, 29 July 2025 at
https://forms.office.com/r/U2yD6QeT10
Upon successful registration, in-person participants will receive a confirmation notice with venue details; online participants will be sent a unique Zoom link.
Program (tentative)
| 13:00-13:02 | Introduction Brief welcome and introduction |
| 13:03-13:05 | Welcome Remarks Dr. Kunihiko HIRABAYASHI, Secretary General, ASEAN-Japan Centre |
| 13:06-13:08 | Opening Remarks Mr. Naoto OKURA, Director General for Research Policy and Design, East Asia Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) |
| 13:09-14:00 | Session 1: From Policy to Practice: Operationalizing DFFT in Asia Moderator: Dr. Yuka KUBOTA, Senior Executive Officer, ASEAN-Japan Centre Speakers: (TBC) Representative from Digital Agency Topic: Japan’s Domestic Regulatory Reforms Supporting Cross-Border Data Flows (TBC) Representative from Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Topic: TBD Ms. Maiko MEGURO, Lead Coordinator on DFFT and Senior Policy Analyst, Directorate for Science, Technology, and Innovation Data Flows, Governance and Privacy Division, OECD Topic: Progress on the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership (IAP) under OECD (TBC) ASEAN ICT Center, ASEAN Secretariat Topic: Progress on the DFFT Implementation of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group |
| 14:01-15:00 | Session 2: Identifying Barriers in Building Trust in Technology and Governance Moderator: Ms. Naoko UEDA, Head, OECD Tokyo Office Speakers: (TBC) Representative from Digital Agency (TBC) Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (KOMDIGI), Indonesia (TBC) Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Singapore |
| 15:01-15:55 | (Optional) Session 3: Catalyzing Innovation: DFFT Sectoral Applications and Case Studies Moderator: Dr. Aladdin Rillo, Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations, East Asia Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) (TBC) Speakers: (TBC) Representative from Trade Policy Bureau, METI (TBC) Ms. Evelyn Goh, Digital Data Working Group, ASEAN Secretariat (TBC) Mr. Daisuke NAKAYAMA, Manager of Digital Transformation, ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Dr. Takanori FUJITA, Senior Fellow, The Tokyo Foundation |
| 15:56-16:00 | Closing Remarks and Call to Action Ms. Naoko UEDA, Head, OECD Tokyo Office |
For Inquiries:
ASEAN-Japan Centre
Research Advocacy and policy
Email: info_rpa@asean.or.jp
