Tuesday's MoU was the second on e-government matters between both countries after the one signed a year ago under which Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore had developed a blueprint for the establishment of a new IT entity and e-government for Kuwait. Signing on behalf of Singapore Tuesday was Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lee Boon Yang and Kuwait's Minister of Communications and Health Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah.
Besides giving Singapore the advisory role to Kuwait's IT agenda, Tuesday's MoU would also enable both countries to work together to select suitable private sector suppliers to implement projects identified under the e-Government Blueprint.
"This second MoU further fosters the friendships between the people of our two countries," Lee said in his speech.
Such cooperation, he said, would allow e-government specialists in the public and private sectors of both countries to find new opportunities for collaboration.
"This will in turn contribute to our respective socio-economic development and help to enhance the competitive edge for both countries," he said.
Singapore is actively pursuing cooperation with West Asian countries which its leaders described as a new growth area for Singapore companies to explore as they venture beyond China and India.
Singapore is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Kuwait as well as with Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Autor: Jackson Sawatan
Quelle: Bernama, 13.09.2005
