Prime Minister Barzani launches IT Academy

[RodinRojhilat KURDISTAN]

Prime Minister Barzani launches IT Academy







Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani
this morning inaugurated the Kurdistan Regional Government's IT
Academy, stressing the value of human resource capacity-building and
information technology across economic sectors.

Prime Minister Barzani said, “We live in a new world where information
and communications are strategic assets. The road ahead carries
opportunities and challenges, so we must embrace new thinking and
allow information and communication technology to help us.”

He added, “The Academy is more than a place to learn about information
technology. It exemplifies the most important type of progress for our
Region – a tool for sustainable development.” In closing, the Prime
Minister fervently urged Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials
to do more to promote a spirit of teamwork and cooperation, to much
applause.

Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that the Academy is another symbol
of the strong bond between the Republic of Korea and the Kurdistan
Region and all of Iraq. He stated that the Academy would benefit the
federal government of Iraq, and not only the KRG.

The Ambassador of South Korea in Iraq, Mr Ha Tae-Yun, also lauded the
inauguration of the centre. South Korea, through the Korea
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has assisted the KRG in the
development and implementation of a number of projects, including the
IT Academy.

Ambassador Tae-Yun said that his country has a special relationship
with the Kurds. He applauded Prime Minister Barzani for his initiative
and vision, and for his overall efforts in creating an investor-
friendly, safe and secure environment.

Mr Botan Mahmoud Osman, the Head of the KRG IT Department, outlined
the strategy for development of information technology knowledge,
based on the public and private sector needs of the Region. The
academy will provide IT training for primarily government employees,
as well as the private sector and civil society organisations.

Mr Choong-sik Han, Chief Representative of KOICA in Erbil, gave a
brief overview of the KOICA contribution in the Kurdistan Region. An
IT Academy student demonstrated his knowledge with a PowerPoint
presentation, and the Prime Minister and Korean Ambassador presented
recent training graduates with official certificates.

See also Prime Minister Barzani's speech at the launch of the IT
Academy
www.krg.org