"We came to learn from Incheon's IT Industry".
Representatives from the committee of Information Technology Professionals from Changchun in China visited
their sister city Incheon on October 17th, in order to enhance cooperation and communication in the IT industry. The joint meeting hosted by IITPA (Incheon IT Promotion Agency) and IPAK (IT Professionals of Korea) was held at the ITTPA president, Mr. Cho Sung-kap's office in Dohwa-dong, Incheon city, he and 20 other participants from IITPA and IPAK gathered with 14 Representatives from Changchun, which were comprised of interested parties from the Changchoon Economic Zone, municipal government and resident companies. Changchun has shown a high level of
interest in the Korean IT industry, in particular, in software. Like Incheon city, Changchun is planning its growth based on
warehouses and the IT industry, looking towards Incheon as a role model for development of software for the automobile industry, online games, animation, internet, and web design. Their visit lays the foundation for itellectual exchange.
The Korean creative contents industry continues to grow fast amid the era of digital and mobile. The growth in export and
consumption of entertainment content makes the future of the industry bright. The industry is expected to grow 4.3% on average by 2013, which exceeds the nation's GDP growth ratio. This expected growth led representatives from Changchoon to visit Incheon and discuss the exchange of
human resources and collaboration in the future. Mr. Cho Sung-kap, President of ITTPA and IPAK, said during his welcoming speech that among other cities dubbed as IT powerhouses, Incheon is home to a long list of IT companies, as well as General Motors Corporation. "It has a long history of advanced information technology with port and post information facilities dating back 30 years." Mr. Cho continued by saying that IITPA has some 300,000 volumes of related documents including government policy from the past 3 decades, which plays a huge role in Incheon's exchange with Changchun city as the city needs data on IT industry
research, venture incubation, etc. He also comments that Incheon is specialized in the game industry and IITPA is located inside the cultural industry zone. Ren Hong-lei, responded by expressing hope that cooperation and exchange with IITPA and IPAK
enhances the development of both cities. Mr. Ren mentioned he aimed to introduce Changchun's technologic industry to Korea and promote cooperation between the two cities during the visit. According to Mr. Ren, Changchun resembles Incheon in several ways including weather and its main industry. "Changchun is a city of automobiles that produced China's first car, a city of films that filmed China's first movie, and a city of science with many science achievments which supports the IT industry in China that requires technology and content.
During the wrap-up Q&A session, An Lian-jun, Chief of the Investment Promotion division of the Commerce Bureau of Changchun, requested that Korean representatives visit Changchun and tour the designated zone for the IT and automobile industry. He explained that their visit aimed to learn from Incheon's IT industry. He continued by saying that Changchun is equipped with many talents in IT and animation
who can speak Korean. Lee Sung Dong, the manager of planning and management in IITPA, commented that with Incheon's 1,100 or so software and game providers, it is highly expected that the two cities become closely connected. According to the manager, Incheon invited Changchun to participate in the ITC (www.itc.or.kr), an export consultation show hosted by IITPA. IPAK, which invites buyers to Incheon from the IT and electronic parts industry every November. He also suggested that talents from Changchun visit the global SW contest in Incheon. He also urged that Changchun should participate in a monthly breakfast seminar hosted in Incheon. IITPA is a training and education agency for the knowledge industry with the slogan, 'Incheon a mecca for ICT in Korea.' Its main mission is to foster a competitive edge in the ICT (Information & Communication Technology), CT (Culture Technology),RT (Robotics Technology) industries. IPAK was established as the first corporation authorized by the Informationand Communications ministry in 1985. Its membership is highly selective and includes 420 or so professionals with more than 10 years of experience in IT, including CEOs and CIOs of Korean companies, professors, managers of government and its affiliated organizations and researchers.
Alvin Toffler and the former Minister of Information and Communications are among its honorary members
