The intra-regional ICT cooperation promotion initiative* proposed by Korea to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic was officially adopted by the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG) chaired by Senior Research Fellow Nam Sang-yeol of KISDI.

* APEC TEL Initiative on Global Challenges and Cooperation Utilizing ICT: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

According to the announcement made by the Ministry of Science and ICT on July 23, Korea took the lead in preparing the initiative as the chair of the working group and led the consensus on the final text with the great interest of the 21 member economies* including the United States, China, Japan and Australia.

* 21 APEC member economies: South Korea, USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Russia, Vietnam, Peru.

The initiative emphasized data-based policies, digital solutions through ICT and new technologies, social consensus, and the need for trust in order to respond cooperatively to the COVID-19 crisis and future global challenges. It proposed a range of initiatives such as sharing information and best practices, strengthening cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and the international community, and promoting digital transformation to solve global challenges.