JERUSALEM – Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko met with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on Jan. 15 and agreed that Japan and Israel will cooperate in healthcare fields that utilize IT. In addition to stepping up its collaboration with Israel in areas such as cyberdefense in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese government is also looking to expand the scope of economic cooperation.

Israel is one of the world’s leaders in the introduction of “digital healthcare,” which utilizes health data and IT to provide medical services. The nation carefully manages the medical data of its approximately 8.8 million residents and possesses advanced technology for medical devices and remote treatment services utilizing IT. Israel is looking to market this technology in Japan and expand its business opportunities there with an eye on the nation’s aging population.