Japan and Estonia Renew Digital Cooperation

On 27 April, Japan and Estonia have renewed their bilateral digital cooperation agreement, strengthening collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital governance.
The Memorandum of Cooperation was extended during the visit of Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta to Tokyo. The signing ceremony took place at Japan’s Digital Agency together with Japan’s Minister for Digital Transformation Matsumoto Hisashi, who is also responsible for digital administrative and fiscal reform and cybersecurity.

The partnership between the two countries began in 2022, when then Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation Karen Makishima and minister Andres Sutt signed the original agreement in Estonia. Since then, cooperation has expanded through practical exchanges and dialogue between the two digitally advanced nations.
One key initiative included the dispatch of a Digital Agency expert from Japan to Estonia for an extended period. The exchange allowed Japanese officials to study Estonia’s internationally recognised digital governance system, while also sharing Japan’s own experiences in digital transformation and public administration reform.
The renewed memorandum aims to further deepen cooperation in areas such as AI, cybersecurity and resilient digital infrastructure. Officials from both countries highlighted the importance of trusted international partnerships as governments increasingly face challenges related to technological change, data security and digital resilience.

Estonia is widely recognised for its advanced e-governance ecosystem, while Japan has accelerated its digital transformation efforts in recent years through the establishment of the Digital Agency and broader administrative reforms.
The renewed agreement reflects growing cooperation between Japan and European partners on digital policy, innovation and secure data governance, as both countries seek to strengthen resilient and human-centred digital societies.

Source: Embassy of Estonia in Tokyo
https://www.digital.go.jp/en/news/1587abef-8522-46a5-a6fe-fb88b528e142 

Published: June 2026