S. Korea, Kyrgyzstan to expand cooperation on e-gov't system

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will assist Kyrgyzstan in setting up an e-government system that can improve the country's overall administrative efficiency and business environment, the Seoul government said Monday.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU), to be signed in Bishkek on Tuesday, calls
for the two sides to come up with a feasible master plan by May that can best
suit the Central Asian country's needs, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
E-Government, also known as digital government, refers to the use of information
and communication technology to enhance overall public services and facilitate
transactions with citizens and the business community.
Seoul will pay 340 million won (US$220,700) to help establish a blueprint with
more detailed work to be discussed at a later date, the ministry said, adding the
move may help open new bilateral cooperative tie-up arrangements.
Kyrgyzstan, which gained independence from Russia in 1991, first established an
information technology (IT) buildup program in 2002.
South Korea's e-government system has received positive reviews from the United
Nations, which placed it fifth in terms of readiness and overall capacity in 2005
after the United States, Denmark, Sweden and Britain.
Seoul has already signed similar MOUs with Indonesia, Mongolia, the Dominican
Republic, Senegal, Nepal, Peru and Kazakhstan to expand cooperation in
e-government.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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