Nakasone Peace Institute established the Research Center for Economic Security on September 1, 2023 to undertake research and formulate policy recommendations on economic security.

　As part of these activities, NPI invited Iida Yoichi, who assumed the post of Director General for Economic Security Policy in the Cabinet Office on July 8, 2023 and is responsible for enforcement of the "Act for the Promotion of Ensuring National Security through Integrated Implementation of Economic Measures," hereafter referred to as the "Economic Security Promotion Act." A special seminar entitled "Recent Developments and Future Challenges in Economic Security" was held on September 28, 2023 to discuss issues related to the Japanese government's initiatives such as the Economic Security Promotion Act and security clearances, as well as trends in international discussions.

　In his opening remarks at the podium, NPI Chairman Aso Taro stated that Japan's enactment of the Economic Security Promotion Act is a forward-looking step in economic security and that, internationally, there is a great deal of interest in this law. He continued by noting that the enactment of this law is not the conclusion and recognized that it is necessary to constantly consider the next steps and even more advanced strategies from the perspective of Japan's national interest, while assessing the international situation. He concluded by saying that NPI, established as a research institute to make policy recommendations from a nonpartisan standpoint, is also expected to conduct research and make policy recommendations that will help shape Japan's policies.

　Iida Yoichi, Cabinet Councillor, Director General for Economic Security Policy, Cabinet Office and Cabinet Councillor, National Security Secretariat, then delivered a lecture entitled "Recent Developments and Future Challenges in Economic Security," in which he outlined the overall picture, system, positioning, and enforcement status of economic security and particularly emphasized the significance of the introduction of the "security clearance" system.

　Following the lecture, the Q&A session was moderated by Shiraishi Shigeaki, Director of the NPI Research Center for Economic Security. Among the subjects discussed between the lecturer and the moderator were ways to cooperate with like-minded countries, the review of specified critical products, and issues related to a System for Non-Disclosure of Selected Patent Applications.

Lecturer:

Iida Yoichi, Director General for Economic Security Policy, Cabinet Office and Cabinet Councillor, National Security Secretariat

Q&A Sesson Moderator:

Shiraishi Shigeaki, Director, Research Center for Economic Security, NPI