Press Room

Singapore will be hosting the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Workshop from 25 - 27 August 2004.



The ACW ICT Workshop is an avenue to help decision makers and policy planners to develop the national infrastructure and programmes to equip women in ASEAN countries with the necessary ICT skills. Such skills would enable them to better access learning, training and employment opportunities in the new economy.

All 10 ASEAN countries will be participating in this ACW ICT Workshop, which is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan ASEAN Exchange Projects Fund. The Workshop is jointly organised by the Ministry of Community Development and Sports and the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations. The Workshop is supported by The ASEAN Secretariat.

Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Sports shared, ''This is the first ICT workshop under the ACW. We hope that it will promote greater awareness, knowledge and appreciation of ICT among decision makers in the ASEAN countries. Although the ASEAN countries are at different levels of ICT development, this workshop will provide an avenue for sharing of experience and expertise among all the ASEAN members. We hope that all will benefit from enhanced knowledge by the end of the workshop''.

Reporters are invited to cover the ACW ICT Workshop. To facilitate interview opportunities, reporters are requested to submit their questions and requests for interviews with workshop delegates in advance through our media liaison officer.

More details on the workshop are attached at Annex A. Please feel free to contact our media liaison officer should you need more information.

Annex A

ASEAN COMMITTEE ON WOMEN

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHOP

25 - 27 AUGUST 2004

Fact Sheet

Organisers
Jointly organised by
Ministry of Community Development and Sports
Singapore Council of Women's Organisations

Sponsor
The ACW ICT Workshop is sponsored by the Government of Japan through the Japan ASEAN Exchange Projects Fund.

It is supported by The ASEAN Secretariat.

Objectives
Promote awareness, general knowledge and appreciation of ICT among decision makers who have a portfolio with a focus on women, education, skills training or employment in ASEAN

Share Singapore's experience in enabling its population, including women and girls, to harness ICT

Workshop content
Singapore will be sharing the 6 major thrusts of its strategy to enable its population, including women and girls, to harness ICT

Thrust 1
Laying the National Foundation
Discussion and sharing of Singapore's National ICT Plan

Thrust 2
Laying the Foundation in Schools
Discussion on Singapore's IT Masterplan in schools, ICT infrastructure, ICT integration within the school curriculum, and access for all school children, regardless of gender

Thrust 3
Laying the Foundation through Skills Training
Sharing of the ICT workforce training programmes available in Singapore and those sponsored by the labour movements

Thrust 4
Paving the Way through Employment
Discussion of how ICT skills open up employment opportunities within the IT Sector and to other job sectors, and thereby overcome gender barriers

Thrust 5
Paving the Way through e-Government Initiatives
Discussion and sharing of Singapore's e-Government initiatives, which enable the population, including women and girls, to gain access to information, carry out transactions, and provide inputs online

Thrust 6
Paving the Way through Access to ICT Infrastructure
Discussion and sharing of Singapore's strategy to provide community-based and library-based facilities, which are appropriate for the population, including women and girls

The workshop will also provide opportunities for delegates from the ASEAN countries to share on ICT efforts in their respective country.

Participating Countries

1. Brunei Darussalam


2. Cambodia


3. Indonesia


4. Laos


5. Malaysia


6. Myanmar


7. Philippines


8. Singapore


9. Thailand


10. Vietnam

Supporting organisations

1. InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore


2. Ministry of Education


3. Ministry of Finance


4. National Library Board


5. National Trades Union Congress


6. People's Association

Issued by:
Ministry of Community Development and Sports
24 August 2004