KISDI President to Visit Myanmar and Cambodia
‘Contributing to Strong Presence of Korean IT Policy through Strengthened Cooperation’

Myanmar:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

KISDI President Lee and U Aung Myint, Vice Chairman of Myanmar's e-National Task Force

KISDI President John H. Lee visited Myanmar from 17 to Feb. 19 with KISDI fellow researchers including Kang In-soo, Lee Jong-hwa, Ko Sang-won, Chang Bum-jin and Lee Kyung-a with respect to the Myanmar ICT Development Master Plan Project. With its completion expected on August this year, the Myanmar Project sponsored by KOICA and run by KISDI consists of the following eight sub-plans: infrastructure, industry, human resource development, e-government, e-commerce, e-education & awareness building, legal framework, and standardization & liberalization. The meeting for interim reporting was recently held in Seoul.

With a warm-hearted welcome, U Aung Myint, Vice Chairman of Myanmar's e-National Task Force complimented KISDI for its contribution to national IT policies. He also hoped that Korea's remarkable development of IT would serve as a role model for Myanmar to follow. President Lee pointed out that transportation and telecommunications are crucial for the development of developing countries, adding that Myanmar with a population of 54 million and growth potential needs to focus on establishing IT infrastructure.

President Lee posed for a picture with representatives of Myanmar's IT business.

When visiting Myanmar's ICT Park, in a meeting with Dr. Kyaw Thein, chairman of MCF, Dr. Myint Than, vice chairman of MCF, Mr. New Win, head professor of Computer Engineering at Yangon University, Mr. Daw Than Tint, vice chairman of MICA (Myanmar Computer Industry Association), Mr. Daw Nilar Aye, secretary-director of MICA, President Lee introduced Korea's IT policies. They took a tour of an incubation center and IT businesses at MICT. Impressed by Korea's powerful presence in the IT sector, representatives of Myanmar's IT industry showed their great interest in KISDI's ICT Development Master Plan. They expected the Project to help develop Myanmar's industry and national economy. During the meeting, President Lee agreed to IT personnel exchanges and close cooperation.

Ambassador Lee Kyung-woo and KISDI researchers

The KISDI delegation headed by President Lee was invited to a luncheon meeting prepared by the Korean embassy to Myanmar. In a meaningful discussion on economic cooperation in IT, Ambassador Lee Kyung-woo emphasized the importance of the Master Plan Project carried out by KISDI in Myanmar while describing Myanmar's political, economic and social situation. And Ambassador Lee hoped that there would be a chance for KISDI to have an additional presentation on what has driven Korea's IT development to Minister and officials of Information and Communications of Myanmar. Also present in the luncheon meeting were a councilor and three secretaries from the Korean Embassy.

Cambodia:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

President Lee had a conversation with Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia

KISDI President Lee visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 20 to Feb. 22. President Lee had a conversation about bilateral cooperation in national IT strategies with Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia in charge of economy and diplomacy. Among the delegation was Kang Tae-hun, CEO of KCOMS who successfully set up the Cambodian government's e-government system (infrastructure, resident registration management, real estate management, automobile management) and has recently undertaken the second phase of the e-government project.

While President Lee explained various programs regarding international cooperation now under way at KISDI as well as research focuses of KISDI, Deputy Prime Minister An asked for Korea's assistance in developing IT human resources of Cambodia. DPM An also told Dr. Sorn Samnang, president of Royal Academy of Cambodia to hold a joint symposium with KISDI and to invite Korean IT experts. In response, President Lee promised to consider arranging IT personnel exchange programs and stated that he expected the Cambodian government to support Korean businesses' participation in the second phase of the Cambodian e-government project.

President Lee posed for a picture with Mr. Leewood, NiDA President (right) and Kang Tae-hun, CEO of KCOMS (left)

In a visit to NiDA (National Information & Communications Technology Development Authority), President Lee was informed of the establishment of Cambodia's e-government. NiDA President, Phu Leewood showed great interests in the Myanmar ICT Development Mater Plan Project carried out by KISDI and the Vietnam government's e-government Road Map Project. He hoped that KISDI would be a part of contributions to Cambodia's IT development.

In a luncheon meeting with Suos Yara, Commissioner of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents (CATA), the Commissioner proposed tourism exchange programs between Korea and Cambodia pointing out the importance of Korean tourists who accounted for about 12% of a total of 1 million of Angkor Wat visitors. President Lee and the Commissioner both agreed that e-Tourism is a prerequisite for the development of the tourism industry and discussed ways toward e-Tourism.

The visit to Myanmar and Cambodia was in line with KISDI's research objective of supporting for domestic IT businesses' further strategic push into developing economies with high growth potential by strengthening the Korean presence as an IT powerhouse. In addition to existing international network and training programs, KISDI plans to expand its research efforts to address IT policy advisory issues for Asian countries and the third nations.