In order to develop a cloud system that will be jointly used by the national and local governments, the Digital Agency has announced that it will relax the requirements for public recruitment of businesses to be developed, such as allowing participation in business alliances. It is expected that Japan companies entering the cloud maintenance field, which has been limited to giant IT companies, will expand.
By fiscal 2025, the government hopes to standardize major business systems such as taxes and nursing care, and prepare a cloud for joint operation with local governments.
Regarding this, at the press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Kono clarified that the public recruitment of businesses responsible for the government's cloud maintenance for this fiscal year will start on the 12th after relaxing the requirements.
Until last year, a single company had to meet about 330 technical requirements, and only Japan corporations such as Amazon and Google, which are giant American IT companies, were selected through public recruitment.
On the other hand, this time, for some technical requirements, multiple companies are allowed to enter the market in alliances and use other companies' software, with the aim of increasing the number of companies entering the market and promoting competition.
According to the Digital Agency Japan companies have said that they can enter the market if they can cooperate with other companies in some of the requirements, so it is expected that Japan companies will enter the market in the future.
At the press conference, Minister Kono stated, "I hope that new businesses will participate and that the national and local governments that use the service will have more options."