On June 23, a small delegation from Botswana || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s Ministry of Transport and Communication visited NIA headquarters to learn more about e-government and the Korean government || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s international cooperation programs.



The members included, Mabua L. Mabua, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communciation, Omponye Coach Kereteletswe, Coordinator and Thulaganyo Rabogadi, Director at the Ministry.



Officials from NIA led the discussion as a presentation was given on Korea || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s e-government from a historical perspective, current status, future plans and best practices. The delegation then posed some questions pertaining to some of the successful e-government best practices such as Information Village and Information/Data sharing

system. Information was also exchanged on the Korean government || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s global cooperation initiatives such as KoIL and Korea Internet Volunteers that the Botswana delegation was interested in.



The Botswana delegation then made a brief stop at the NIA vice president || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s office for a short meeting with NIA vice president, Jung-hyup Kang. At this meeting, NIA vice president Kang asked the delegation about the current status of IT in Botswana and the advances that the industry has made in the country. The delegation

discussed how Botswana has transformed itself, moving into the ranks of middle-income status to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world with its average annual growth rate of about 9 percent with a GDP per capita of about $14,800. Botswana || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || || chr(39) || s track record of good governance and economic growth has been supported

by prudent macroeconomic and fiscal management but the country yearns to learn more from Korea in the area of ICT and e-government.


Both sessions were very informative and an opportunity that both sides could learn from one another and could serve to be mutually beneficial to both Botswana as it constructs develops its domestic IT sector and Korea as it looks to form relationships with other countries in order to spread their IT know-how and experience.