Ukrainian Digitalization Experience Showcased in Tokyo: Focus on AI, GovTech, and Cyber Resilience
In a significant event held in Tokyo, representatives from Ukrainian and Japanese businesses, as well as government and academic institutions, gathered to discuss Ukraine's experience in creating a resilient digital ecosystem.
The capital of Japan, Tokyo, recently hosted a noteworthy event where representatives from Ukrainian and Japanese businesses, along with government and academic institutions, gathered to discuss Ukraine's experience in establishing a resilient digital ecosystem. This meeting served as a platform for exchanging ideas and exploring the potential application of Ukrainian innovations in Japan, as well as discussing future cooperation between the two countries.
The main topic of discussion revolved around the digital solutions that Ukraine has implemented over the past few years, their transformation into a government service ecosystem, and the tools for citizen engagement. A crucial aspect of the development of these initiatives is the public-private partnership, which has become the foundation for the growth of GovTech in Ukraine.
Valeria Koval, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, highlighted during the meeting that Ukraine has made impressive strides in digitalization over the past six years. The teams from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Diia, in collaboration with other agencies, have introduced over two hundred different services available both through a mobile application and a web portal.
"Online business registration, car purchases, and services for veterans, their families, children, students, and pensioners are all accessible to Ukrainians. For instance, online marriage registration has been recognized as one of the best inventions of 2024 by Time magazine. Every fourth couple gets married daily through Diia, which is a vivid example of successful digitalization in the country," Koval emphasized.
Alexander Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture for Digital Development, pointed out that digitalization in Ukraine is not just a tool but a means by which the government collects signals, analyzes problems, and accelerates decision-making.
"Artificial intelligence is not a separate tool but an embedded capability that makes the entire decision-making cycle more evidence-based and predictable. We are already living in this reality—systems such as ePermit, Pulse, and eCheck function during active warfare. The main lesson we have learned is that the greatest value of AI in public administration is not speed, but consistency. Capital flows where there is predictability. This is what we are building," the Ukrainian official stated.
Japanese participants at the meeting praised the practical value of the Ukrainian experience, particularly in the context of rapidly adapting government services, cybersecurity, and integrating innovations into public administration. Koichi Akaiishi, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan, emphasized that despite the peaceful living conditions in Japan, the country is subjected to significant natural disasters, making the effective use of digital technologies crucial.
"Ukraine has already experienced a catastrophe, and this experience can be extremely valuable for us in preparing for similar challenges. We can apply this experience in practice, and it is in this process that our cooperation will develop," Akaiishi remarked.
The event concluded with a networking session where participants discussed opportunities for launching joint Ukrainian-Japanese projects in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital services. The panel discussion was organized with the support of the Ukrainian Embassy in Japan, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, and the Japan Overseas Investment Institute (JOI) as part of the Ukrainian delegation's visit to Tokyo.
Among those participating in the discussion were representatives from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Ministry of Economy, as well as business leaders, including co-founder of Reface Oles Petrov, Chief Global Director of Nippon Electric Company Takeshi Nakayama, and co-founder and general partner of the investment group ROOSH Sergey Tokarev.
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