Signing ceremony: Canada's Department of Industry Communications Research Centre President Veena Rawat and Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology (Communications & Technology) Francis Ho sign the renewed memorandum.

Hong Kong and Canada have renewed a memorandum of understanding to bolster co-operation in information and communications technology.

It focuses on software applications, products and policy, and information and communications infrastructure and related policy.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology (Communications & Technology) Francis Ho and Canada's Department of Industry Communications Research Centre President Veena Rawat signed the renewed memorandum at the ITU Telecom World 2006 Hong Kong pavilion today.

Canada, Hong Kong's first information and communications technology MOU partner, signed the original memorandum in 1998. Both places have extended it twice since then.

Strong ties

Mr Ho said the renewal signified the strong connections in the information and communications technology sector between Canada and Hong Kong.

Under the renewed MOU, the two places will seek co-operation in:

* software applications, products and policy, including multimedia and digital entertainment; Internet, e-Government, information technology security and e-Health; and,

* information and communications infrastructure and related policy, including electronic commerce, current and future issues in telecoms policy, broadband networks and applications, and wireless technologies and services.

Hong Kong has been fostering ties in information and communications technology co-operation with other countries in the form of MOUs in recent years.

Mutually beneficial

"Under the MOUs, we are aiming to create synergy and establish mutually beneficial relationships among relevant government agencies and industry organisations to enhance the ICT development in the respective economies," Mr Ho added.

Many collaborative activities have been organised under the MOU's auspices. The major forms of co-operation include mutual visits, exchange forums, trade facilitation, business partnerships and a student-exchange programme.

"I am confident the synergy generated from such exchanges and co-operation will enable us to compete more successfully in today's global arena," Mr Ho said.