The Centre for Innovation and Training in Digital Governance, remodelled on the basis of the Moldovan-Korean Centre for Information and Access, was officially opened today, 8 December 2022. The event took place in the context of celebration of 10 years of bilateral cooperation and partnership between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Korea, and was dedicated to the development of the information society and the creation of opportunities for access to information, technologies and innovations.

On this occasion, a delegation of the National Agency for Information Society of the Republic of Korea (NIA), headed by its President Dr.JongSung Hwang and Vice-President Dr.Jaeho Lee, arrived in Chisinau. The delegation was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization of the Republic of Moldova Iurie Turcanu in the Government Building. During the meeting, the discussion focused on the objectives of enhancing the Moldovan-Korean cooperation and making the most of the opportunities in the field of digital transformation for both countries.

After the meeting, the officials attended the celebration of the opening of the Centre for Innovation and Training in Digital Governance, hosted by the e-Governance Agency, attended by representatives of the Korean delegation, beneficiaries of the Moldovan-Korean Centre for Information and Access and employees of the e-Governance Agency.

In his speech, Iurie Turcanu, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization, mentioned: “The bilateral dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Korea in the field of digital transformation has an upward trend and lasts more than 10 years. We are happy to take over the experience of Korea, one of the world leaders in the development of the information society. This cooperation with the relevant Korean institutions, aimed at transferring experience in our country, opens wide perspectives in the development of the ICT sector in the Republic of Moldova”.

In his turn, the President of the National Agency for Information Society of the Republic of Korea, Jong-Sung Hwang, mentioned in his speech that he was impressed by the results achieved by the Moldovan-Korean Centre for Information and Access, over its 10-year activity, while stressing that his country will provide all the necessary support and assistance for the development of the new Centre for Innovation and Training in Digital Governance, for the next years.

In November 2021, the e-Governance Agency and the National Agency for Information Society signed at the 2021 Global ICT Leadership Forum in Seoul, a Memorandum of Understanding stipulating that the Republic of Moldova will receive assistance from the Republic of Korea in order to develop the information society in Moldova. In this context, Olga Tumuruc, Director of the e-Governance Agency, stated: “Over the past 10 years, the society of the Republic of Moldova has evolved considerably. As shown by the latest statistical data, in 2021, the number of 4G mobile internet users reached 2.5 million people, which is almost the full coverage of the country's active population. On the other hand, the offer of electronic public services provided by the state has evolved and diversified. In this context, it is extremely important to have an engine, an accelerator of such behavioural changes relating to technologies, digital solutions, electronic services, through information, empowerment, popularization, development of new digital skills".

The Centre for Innovation and Training in Digital Governance was provided with new equipment, such as high-performance laptops, fast access to Internet and renovated premises that will be made available to the beneficiaries according to an approved schedule. The new Centre, managed by the e-Governance Agency, aims at delivering training courses for various population groups, including public servants, academia, representatives of the associative and private sectors in order to increase the level of digital culture and develop digital skills and competences that will allow beneficiaries to work efficiently, comfortably and safely in the digital environment.