Minister Lee Jong-ho: "The International Community Must Strive to Reduce the Digital Divide" (Comprehensive)

10th Global ICT Leadership Forum Held on the 5th
Lee Jong-ho: "Hope It Becomes an Opportunity to Strengthen Korea-Africa Cooperation"

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT emphasized that the international community must work together to reduce the digital divide and prepare for risks arising from digital technologies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the '10th Global ICT Leadership Forum' held on the 5th at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Minister Lee stated in his opening remarks, "The digital ecosystem must be open to everyone, and measures to prepare for the risks arising from it must also be established," adding, "We call on countries around the world to participate in creating a digital order to uphold universal human values."

He continued, "I hope this forum will be a meaningful venue to jointly create a new digital order and serve as an opportunity to strengthen digital cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Africa."

The Global ICT Leadership Forum has been held annually since 2015 as part of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects to share Korea’s policies and experiences as a digital leading country and to contribute to the formulation and development of ICT policies in developing countries. This forum was held as a side event of the Korea-Africa Summit, which has been ongoing for two days since the previous day, with the purpose of establishing ICT cooperation with the African region. ICT ministers from 13 African countries, including Egypt, Uganda, Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, attended.

In the first keynote speech, Eom Yeol, Director of ICT Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, presented Korea’s major strategies and policy directions in AI and digital fields under the theme of 'AI and Digital-based Innovation Growth Strategy.' In the second keynote speech, Hwang Jong-seong, President of the National Information Society Agency (NIA), spoke on 'Korea-Africa Digital Cooperation Strategies in the AI Era,' focusing on AI-based ODA and the Korea-Africa partnership.

In his keynote, President Hwang stated, “Among the partnership areas between Korea and Africa, ICT has become a priority since last year,” adding, “Through this, collaboration is expected to expand into fields such as AI, robotics, and biotechnology.”

He further emphasized the possibility of exchanges between AI venture companies in Africa and Korean experts, citing Nigeria’s AI Data Center (AIDC) as an example. He said, “We aim to develop the AIDC in Nigeria through partnerships with Korean experts and global partners,” adding, “Based on Korea’s know-how, it is expected that AI data can be developed economically and efficiently.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During two sessions held that day, ministers of science, information, and communication from various African countries stressed the importance of inter-country cooperation, especially partnerships with Korea, for Africa’s digital development. The first session was themed 'Strengthening Global Solidarity and Cooperation in the Era of Deepening Digitalization,' and the second session focused on 'Sustainable Innovation Strategies Based on ICT.'

Tahina Razahindramalo, Minister of Madagascar, said, "Efforts to enhance AI capabilities among youth are necessary," and added, "We want to learn a lot from Korea’s experience in building smart cities." Cherno B, Minister of Sierra Leone, stated, "Sierra Leone remains impoverished, so we must address digital-related challenges for a leap forward," and added, "It would be good to establish a production and implementation-based partnership with Korea in policy and institutional frameworks, infrastructure, and education."

Meanwhile, prior to the forum, Minister Lee held bilateral meetings with Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, and Nizar Ben Neji, Minister of Communications Technology of Tunisia, to discuss ICT cooperation measures. An MOU on ICT cooperation was signed with Tunisia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.