IT training centers in Asia

IT training centers in Asia

TOKYO (Nikkei): The Japanese government by 2003 plans to
create 30 information technology training centers mainly in
Southeast Asia as part of a US$15 billion initiative pledged by
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to help erase the so-called digital
divide between industrialized and developing nations, the Nihon
Keizai Shimbun reported in its Friday morning edition.

Mori promised the funding at the Okinawa summit meeting of the
Group of Eight nations in July. The government is now leaning
toward providing about $5 billion through technical cooperation
and the rest via official development assistance. The money is
slated to be disbursed in two installments over the five years
through 2005, the business daily reported.

The first phase of the plan, ending in 2003, will be devoted
to boosting the base levels of IT, mainly in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations. Financial aid as well as Japanese
technicians will be provided to IT centers to foster
technological cooperation, the report said.