E-business to be fostered as energizer of new economy

The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Construction and Transportation will introduce a complete system for accepting tenders online, while the Supply Administration will increase the share of its e-commerce procurement of goods required by the government to over 95 percent by 2003. All government departments and agencies will cooperate to ensure that six core industries (electronics, automobile, shipbuilding, steel, machinery and textile) conduct more than 15 percent of their deals online by 2003.

Strategies for developing e-business were discussed at a meeting Friday of 180 officials and businessmen including ministers concerned in e-commerce, leaders of major economic organizations and industry representatives, presided over by president Kim Dae-Jung. They agreed that the government and the private sector should join hands to press ahead with five major development strategies to lift the local industry`s level of e-business so that it is on a par with that of the United States and Japan by 2003.

Lee Byong-Ki eye@donga.com