Korea eager to help Belarus create digital government

The Republic of Korea is willing to take part in creating a digital government in Belarus, BelTA learned from Belarusian First Deputy Information Technologies and Communications Minister Dmitry Shedko.

“The Korean side is interested in helping us develop digital government and in allowing Korean companies to take part in the process,” said the official.

On 24 September after the opening ceremony of the Belarusian-Korean information access center in Minsk Korean Minister of Science, Information and Communication Technologies, and Future Planning Choi Yang-hee told media: “I hope that in the near future we will be able to specify our joint projects in the area of forming a digital government in Belarus”. In his words, Belarus and South Korea can promote cooperation in various areas. “I see a very good start in view of the opening of the Belarusian-Korean information access center. We have also held the first Belarusian-Korean business forum. Besides, Korea has expressed its intention to partake in the development of the government strategy to develop the information society in Belarus,” stated Choi Yang-hee.

Dmitry Shedko explained that digital government is part of the strategy. “It is an integral part of it. At the same time the information society goes beyond the informatization of the state authority. Information society also applies to the entire economy and the use of modern technologies from the production sector and retail to education and healthcare,” the official remarked.

The Belarusian First Deputy Information Technologies and Communications Minister said that the Korean side had offered its experts for helping develop the strategy for informatization and the creation of an information society in Belarus in 2016-2022.

On 24 September the delegation of the Republic of Korea led by Minister of Science, Information and Communication Technologies, and Future Planning Choi Yang-hee held high-level meetings with representatives of the Belarus government and the Belarus President Administration. During the negotiations the Belarusian side assured the Korean side that favorable conditions for Korean companies to partake in business processes in Belarus will be created.

The present visit of Minister of Science, Information and Communication Technologies, and Future Planning Choi Yang-hee is the first visit of a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Korea to Belarus. The visit is of great importance for the development of practical cooperation between the two countries in the area of information and communication technologies and the attraction of Korean direct investments for the sake of creating high-tech joint ventures in the ICT industry in Belarus, representatives of the Information Technologies and Communications Ministry believe.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Korea were established in 1992. An honorary consul of Belarus in Korea was appointed in 2006.

In January-July 2014 Belarus-Korea trade exceeded $120.4 million, 1.4% up from January-July 2013. Belarus’ main exports to South Korea include potash fertilizers, semiconductors, fiberglass and glass cloth, optical and measuring devices, laser equipment. In January-July 2014 Belarus’ export to Korea amounted to $33.7 million, 55.7% up.