CIFAL Jeju Co-organises Workshop on ICT-based Innovative Industries for Sustainable Local Development
23 May 2018, Jeju, Republic of Korea – UNITAR’s Affiliated International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders in Jeju (CIFAL Jeju) organized a 4-day workshop on ‘ICT-based Innovative Industries for Sustainable Local Development’ in Jeju-do, Republic of Korea. The workshop was co-organized with CIFAL Shanghai and Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID), Republic of Korea and took place from 23 to 26 May 2018. 20 participants from 13 different countries in the Asia-Pacific region, working in governments, international organizations, academia, and NGOs joined the workshop.
The ICT convergence market has been expanding significantly as more and more local governments utilize ICTs to strengthen local governance and urban services delivery. Nonetheless, local governments differ in their capabilities and track record of integrating ICTs to strengthen services delivery and urban development. While larger cities in developing countries are increasingly advancing in digital government and ICT investment, local governments in least developed countries and in medium-sized cities, are in need of greater means of implementation to meeting the SDG targets. In the Asia-Pacific region, medium-sized cities are expected to see the highest rates of population growth and development in the coming decades. In this regard, there is a growing need for comprehensive capacity development of these city’s personnel to leverage the potential of ICT in strengthening sustainable local development and innovation, as well as ICT in planning and development for second and third tier city governments. These officials need increased knowledge on good practices and policies on the ICT industry, which can be further implementation in strengthening government policies relating to ICTs and local private sector development for ICT-based innovation. In response, CIFAL Jeju’s workshop aimed to build capacity of participants on ICT sector, whilst promoting awareness and recognition on the importance of promoting ICT-based Innovative industries.
Countries represented in the workshop included Bhutan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Cote D'ivoire, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The workshop served as a platform for knowledge sharing and discussion and motivate participants to discuss the current status and issues of ICT industry at national and local levels. The workshop also provided an opportunity for the local governments and cities in the Asia-Pacific region to exchange ICT policies and best practices relevant to fostering ICT-based innovative industries through city-to-city cooperation.
Presentations focused on ICT topics: smart city management, including the smart government, smart people, smart economy, smart living, smart mobility and smart environment management and the application of ICT-based innovation in Shanghai including a smart strategy in infrastructure development, municipal management, public service and e-governance. The workshop ended with a visit to ICT and natural sites in Jeju-do including Nexon Computer Museum and Woljeong-ri.
Photo 1: Group photo of participants
Photo 2: Participants disccusing in small groups