June 20, 2025 Japanese Candidate for the Election of the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

　The government of Japan has decided to re-nominate Mr. ONOE Seizo, the current Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (serving the term from 2023 to 2026), as its candidate for the upcoming election of the Director of the Telecommunications Standardization Bureau to be held at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026, with the aim of securing his re-election for a second term (2027–2030).

1. Outline of the ITU

　The ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations for telecommunications, and this year marks its 160th anniversary. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and it currently has 194 member countries and regions. Since 1959, Japan has been continuously elected as a Council Member and has been one of the largest supporters of the ITU in terms of both financial and human resources.

2. The candidate

　Mr. ONOE, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the ITU, has extensive experience in the industry and has played a leading role in both the standardization and technological development of mobile communications. Since taking up his position as the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau in 2023, he has successfully led the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly held in New Delhi, India, in 2024, and has also been actively promoting industry engagement in the ITU.
　His exceptional leadership and achievements have been widely recognized internationally, and we believe that his re-election in the November 2026 and his continued service in a second term would be highly appropriate.

3. Efforts

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will work closely with relevant ministries and agencies and actively engage with ITU member governments to ensure that Japan is elected in the upcoming election.

(Reference 1) Outline of the International Telecommunication Union
(Reference 2) Brief biography of ONOE Seizo