SILAG RECEIVES GENEROUS ICT SUPPORT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

By Sharon AGAVI

The Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) today receives generous ICT support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korean Embassy in PNG.

The Korea Ambassador to PNG H.E. Choii Jhong Ho in his speech said that in 2013 the Korean Government assisted the then PILAG with the donation of ICT goods such as personal computers (PC) and helped constructed the Internet Access building within its premises, however, this time more than 90 desktops, 20 laptops, routers and servers valued at about K547, 000 are handed over to SILAG to help facilitate the country’s public sector capacity building.

This is in line with the Korean Government’s initiative to empower PNG’s public sector capacity through digital transformation and stronger internet connection.

He hopes that the ICT Equipment handed over today will help the institute achieve its objective to be more digital-technology oriented and also hope that SILAG will continue to be an educational entity that will serve as a hub for human capital development.

In attendance to witness the presentation ceremony was the Minister for Public Service and keynote speaker, Hon. Joe Sungi and also the Vice Minister Francis Siune.

As the Minister Responsible for the PNG National Public Service, Mr. Sungi his pleased and honour the support from the Republic of Korea and affirm that this generous donation of the ICT equipment will go a long way to enable the vision of the institute to deliver online training to the more than 140, 000 public servants across the country.

The CEO of SILAG Michael Barobe thanked the Korean Embassy and its Ambassador for the ICT Equipment and said SILAG will continue to work with the Republic of Korea in the public sector to ensure that the institution have capacity in terms of human and ICT resources as the institution is ready to become a university.

His plea to the ambassador His Excellency Choii Jhong Ho to work together to achieve the institution’s dream.