Masatsugu Asakawa, Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Japan
Masatsugu Asakawa is currently serving as Deputy Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs. He is responsible for international financial and taxation policies of the Ministry of Finance (MOF). Since he joined the MOF in 1981, he has held many senior positions in the Ministry, including Director for Co-ordination Division, International Bureau (2007-08), Development Policy Division (2006-07), Foreign Exchange Markets Division (2004-06), International Tax Policy Division, Tax Bureau (2002-04), and Regional Financial Cooperation Division, International Bureau (2000-02). Prior to his current appointment at the MOF, he served as Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister under the Aso Cabinet (2008-09).
Mr. Asakawa also has extensive experience outside the MOF. He served as Manager for Technical Assistance Management Unit, Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF (1996-2000), and also served as Personal Assistant to the President of Asian Development Bank (1989-1992). Besides, he held several positions at the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, OECD, while serving his positions at the MOF, including Co-Chair for Board for Co-operation with Non-OECD Economies (2002-04), and Co-Chair for Forum on Harmful Tax Practices (2002-04), and Member of the Advisory Board (2002-05). Currently, he again serves as Co-Chair for Board for Co-operation with Non-OECD Economies since 2010 and as Chair for Committee on Fiscal Affairs since June 2011.