Manila, June 5, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Government of the Republic of Korea has set up a US$20 million e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund at Asian Development Bank (ASX: ATB). The fund aims to to bridge the digital divide and promote improved access to information and creating and sharing of knowledge through Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in the Asia and Pacific region.
The fund, managed and administered by ADB, will support ADB's developing member countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the World Summit on Information Societies declaration, through its two programs - the e-Asia and the Knowledge Partnership Fund.
The e-Asia program, to receive half of the fund, will support projects that aim to reduce and bridge the digital divide, such as studies and research, education and training, information dissemination and networking through workshops and publications, and innovative approaches to promoting ICT.
The Knowledge Partnership program, with the other half of the fund, will support projects that aim to strengthen the capacity of developing member countries, such as by providing knowledge and sharing information and experiences for poverty reduction and social development through workshops, trainings, research work, and publications.
"We are very grateful for this contribution from the Government of Korea," says Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations. "ADB recognizes that ICT and knowledge is a powerful force in shaping the social and economic development of the Asia and Pacific region."
Numerous studies and the World Summit on the Information Society have shown that corporate and national economic performance is dependent on ICT, which provides developing countries with an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital development goals.
Contact
Tsukasa Maekawa
Email: tmaekawa@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5875; Mobile: +63917 625 1351
Graham Dwyer
Email: gdwyer@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 5253; +632 898 3413; +63 915 741 4363
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