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26 September 2008

Deputy Minister Padayachie welcomes R8 million Korean contributions to establish ICT training centre in South Africa. The Deputy Minister of Communications Radhakrishna Roy Padayachie and his Korean counterpart Vice Minister Nam-Joon Chung of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security through the Korean Agency for Digital Opportunities (KADO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formalised the Korean government's commitment to contribute R8 million over three years towards the establishment of an Information Communication Technologies Co-operation Centre (ITCC) in South Africa.

The purpose of the ITCC will amongst other things be to promote the exchange of complementary experiences of the two respective countries for the mutual development of the ITCC. On signing the Memorandum of Understanding Deputy Minister Padayachie said the bilateral co-operation and partnership between the Department of Communications and KADO would create the much needed Information Communication Technology cadres whose role would be to advance the cause of Information Technology Communications.

The following areas for co-operation were identified:
* the operation of an e-skills training centre
* implementation of e-government and the development of e-government related skills
* The development of Research and Development (R&D) projects for ICT development and the proactive identification of ICT skills needs in South Africa.
* Consultation and advice on national ICT development.
* To build mutually co-operative relationships between the Information Technology (IT) sector of South Africa and Korea.

"The project is in line with the general objectives of the Meraka e-skills institute that will be operational by the beginning of the 2009 academic year," said Dr Harold Wesso, the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Meraka e-skills institute.

The Meraka e-skills institute will have the responsibility for the project identification and design. The institute will focus on e-skills development in both the public and private sectors and society generally an e-skill being defined as the ability to develop and use ICTs within the context of a knowledge environment and associated competencies (technology, business, and functional aptitude), that enables the individual to participate in a world in which the development and use of ICT is a requirement for advancement in business, government/governance and civil society.

South Korea leads the world in many respects as far as ICT is concerned. A partnership with KADO is a major boost for the operationalisation of the Meraka e-skills institute, both in terms of knowledge production and human resources.

Issued by:
Joe Makhafola
Tel: 012 427 8010
Cell: 071 290 1735
E-mail joe@doc.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Communications
26 September 2008
Source: Department of Communications (http://www.doc.gov.za)