The Japanese government plans to use the cards used in its ‘My Number” social and fiscal number system for public procurement, reports Sankei News (J) A proposal for it is expected to be submitted to the current regular session of the Diet.

Currently, companies participating in online tender procedures, need to use an IC card issued by a limited number of designated organisations and have these read by special card readers. With the current plan, the government wants to make it possible to use “My Number” cards instead, when submitting online tender documentations.  The move is also prompted by the low level of applications for the physical cards, since the introduction of the My Number System last year. While most Japanese citizens now have their own My Number, few have applied for the “My Number” Card.  Also the government hopes that it will further decrease the amount of paperwork that is used for public procurement procedures and that it will stimulate more companies to move to online systems. With this, the government strives to short the period for assessment of bidder eligibility in the procedure. 

Source: Sankei News (J)