NEWS RELEASES
CANADA AND SINGAPORE SIGNINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONSTECHNOLOGY AGREEMENTS
November 21, 1997 No. 194
CANADA AND SINGAPORE SIGN
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENTS
Minister for International Trade Sergio Marchi and Minister for Trade and Industry
and Second Minister for Finance of Singapore H.E. Lee Yock Suan signed today a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) on co-operation in information and
telecommunications technology. They also witnessed the signing of 13 agreements
estimated to be worth over $150 million by a number of associations and companies.
"This MOU opens a technological gateway between our countries that should act as a
catalyst for increased scientific, business, educational and cultural ties," said
Mr. Marchi. "These agreements are positive proof of the opportunities for
co-operation between Canada and Singapore."
"It is a milestone in our excellent bilateral relations," said Mr. Lee Yock Suan.
"Close collaboration between our two countries in the fields of information and
communications technology will enhance our competitive advantages in these
strategic industries, which are engines of growth in the global market."
The MOU will support the development of technologies, products and services for
the benefit of industry, education and research in Canada and Singapore. It has
five key thrusts: enabling physical connectivity, cultivating research and
development, promoting educational and learning program exchanges, accelerating
commercial and industry exchange, and co-ordinating electronic commerce policies.
Today's signings include a new electronic linkage between CANARIE -- the Canadian
Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education -- and Singapore
ONE, a high-speed Internet network that delivers interactive, multimedia
applications and services to homes, schools and businesses throughout Singapore.
The link will allow students from Canada and Singapore to benefit from the
exchange of online educational services and distance learning.
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Jointly released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Canada, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore.
A backgrounder is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
CANADA
Leslie Swartman
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(604) 333-1900
David Mulcaster
Industry Canada
(613) 990-4295
SINGAPORE
Tay Lay Kheng
National Computer Board
Tel.: (604) 684-3131
Fax: (604) 662-1929
Marc Tan
National Computer Board
Tel.: (65) 772-0301
Fax: (65) 779-5340
Sim Soo Kheng
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Tel.: (65) 332-7210
Fax: (65) 334-3418
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Backgrounder
CANADA-SINGAPORE AGREEMENTS
The Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education
(CANARIE) and the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) have signed an
agreement to support and promote the objectives of their mutual programs in
developing advanced, next-generation networking applications and services by the
interconnecting of Canada's Next Generation Internet, CA*net II, and the Singapore
Internet Next Generation Advanced Research and Education (SINGAREN). CANARIE is a
non-profit organization that supports and facilitates the development of a
knowledge-based information infrastructure in Canada. TAS is the national
regulator and promoter of the telecommunication and postal industries in the
Republic of Singapore. TAS also plays a leading role in the development of
Singapore's national information infrastructure, Singapore ONE.
The Communications Research Centre of Canada and the National Computer Board of
Singapore have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a co-operative
program to further the spirit of the principles established in the Information and
Communications Technologies Agreement signed by the Government of the Republic of
Singapore and the Government of Canada on November 21, 1997.
The University of Waterloo and the National University of Singapore have signed a
memorandum of understanding for
co-operation in education and research. The two universities will also explore the
use of the high-speed link to promote distance learning and explore the
transmission of research seminars and workshops between the institutions.
The University of Toronto (Faculty of Information Studies) and the National
University of Singapore (Institute of Systems Science) have signed a memorandum of
understanding for collaboration on distance learning. The two parties will share
existing courses and products and help each other test new teaching models and
emerging technologies. The Faculty of Information Studies is one of the world's
leading faculties in the field of information management and knowledge management.
The Institute of Systems Science is Asia Pacific's leading centre for advanced
information technology education and technology transfer for senior management and
professionals.
Industry Canada and the National Computer Board of Singapore (NCB) signed a
memorandum of understanding to facilitate the development of a learning network.
The two parties will explore the exchange of expertise in the application of
information communication technologies in the areas of government services,
health, learning and training, as well as in the co-development of instructional
techniques using the latest technology. They have also agreed to explore ways in
which to combine efforts toward the effective export of their information
communication technology sectors.
The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), in partnership with the
Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education (CANARIE)
and the Singapore Federation of Computer Industries (SFCI), signed a collaborative
agreement to extend business development services to members of one another's
organizations, identify and promote success stories of Canada-Singapore
collaboration and business partnership, explore sources of funding and collaborate
in raising awareness of special business opportunities. The Canada-Singapore ICT
[Information and Communications Technology] Industry Steering Committee will be
formed to act as a facilitating organization to champion and co-ordinate the
efforts.
A joint venture company, called NCS-SelfServe Asia Pacific, will be set up by the
end of 1997 to provide electronic commerce outsourcing services to the Asia
Pacific region. This joint venture is between Commerce Direct International (CDI)
from Calgary, Alberta, and National Computer Systems Pte Ltd. (NCS), a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Singapore Telecom Group. CDI will provide the technology
and know-how and NCS will provide the marketing, solution customization,
implementation, help desk support, and post-implementation support for NCS-SelfServe. NCS-SelfServe's electronic commerce outsourcing service is already in
operation in Singapore with a number of Singapore-based customers. The initial
customers who will be partnering NCS-SelfServe for electronic distribution of
their products include AICO Arena International Corp., Comcentral, Home Ticket
Network, NetNanny Pte Ltd. and SoftSearch Information Services.
Morgan Media Inc., of Sidney, British Columbia, has signed a strategic marketing
partnership memorandum of understanding with ST Computer Systems & Services
Limited to distribute their product exclusively in Singapore and Malaysia and non-exclusively for the rest of the Asia Pacific region.
Morgan Media Inc. has also signed an agreement establishing a joint venture
company with the Institute of Systems Science (ISS) to carry out the development,
commercialization and worldwide marketing of online communities and virtual
environments for education and entertainment, using and exploiting technologies,
innovations and expertise residing in Morgan Media and ISS.
Rhema Ventures Pte Ltd. and SRI Strategic Resources Inc., of Burnaby, British
Columbia, have signed a strategic partnership agreement to promote and implement
SRI's integrated Internet/IVR/Kiosk business applications. The strategic
partnership focusses on joint development and marketing of Interactive Voice
Response (IVR)/Internet/Kiosk/Wireless and related electronic commerce
technologies in financial institutions, government and the private sector.
SRI Strategic Resources Inc. and ST Computer Systems & Services Limited (STCS)
have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a strategic marketing
partnership. The two parties have agreed to develop co-operative business
activities and seek new markets for each party's products and services. STCS will
also work in conjunction with Rhema Ventures Pte Ltd., a business partner of SRI
Strategic Resources Inc., to market and promote products and services belonging to
SRI. SRI will also market and promote products and services belonging to STCS.
The Communication Security Establishment of Canada's Department of National
Defence and the National Computer Board of the Republic of Singapore have signed
an arrangement to exchange information and work toward common public key
infrastructure policies and practices. They will also develop a draft cross-certification framework and strawman cross-certification agreement.
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