(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Japanese Government Sets Action Plan for Y2K
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September 22, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Japan's Advanced Information and Telecommunications
Society Promotion Headquarters, led by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi,
released the government action plan for the "Year 2000 Problem."
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The plan includes comprehensive guidelines on the need for thorough notification
of the Year 2000 problem, overall system inspections and the setting
up of a crisis management system for system breakdowns. Also, systems
at ministries and agencies with high importance need to be Y2K compliant
by the end of June 1999, and financial support needs be established
such as subsidies for Y2K-related issues for small- and medium-sized
businesses.
The Action Plan released at this time has been prepared based on a proposal
made by the "Year 2000 Compliance Consultation Council," which consists
of computer industry executives and top leaders of large business users.
Although the plan largely contains the Year 2000 issues mostly talked
about and pointed out many times before, its comprehensive measures
for the systems of all government-related offices merit attention.
The highest priority, "A," is assigned to systems involved with human
lives, economy and foreign policy, while the priority "B" is assigned
to systems that affect other administrative organizations. Therefore,
systems falling under the "A" priority will be given top priority.
Modification and testing will be completed by the end of June 1999. At
the same time, if fixed systems do not operate properly, a preparation
of a risk management plan is required.
Under the plan, each ministry and agency is obliged to submit quarterly
status reports to the Management and Coordination Agency, and the Management
and Coordination Agency is required to disclose its conclusions. Autonomous
bodies and authorities also need to submit quarterly reports on the
systems compliance status of regional public bodies and semi-government
corporations.
Further, the plan asks that private sector businesses complete Year 2000
fixes by the end of June 1999 to the furthest extent possible. To help
this process, the government will extend support, including funding,
for the Year 2000 issue assistance system exercised by prefectural local
governments.
More information in English is at: http://www.miti.go.jp/intro-e/a228201e.html#I.%0Promotin
g%0Y2K%0awareness
Related story: Japan's Finance Industry Draws Measures for Year
2000 Problem
(BizTech News Dept.)
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