NZ, Korea sign pact to work together

By Yoke Har Lee

New Zealand and South Korea are to explore ways to deal with practical issues surrounding e-commerce.

The two issued a joint statement, signed by the Minister for Enterprise and Commerce, Max Bradford, and his Korean counterpart, Chung Duck-koo.

The cooperation statement was signed during Korean President Kim Dae-jung's first state visit to New Zealand, for the Apec summit.

In a second joint statement, the two countries announced an agreement to cooperate on industrial and technological development. This should pave the way for exchanges of information and personnel, and the development of biotechnology and information technology.

President Kim told the Korean-New Zealand Business Council yesterday that life sciences and bioengineering were an important area for the two countries to cooperate in.

"Korea has designated bioengineering as a strategic industry and is supporting it," he told the council's lunch meeting.

"There is a good chance for the bioengineering enterprises of the two countries to cooperate with each other and compete against each other in good faith with both coming out as world leaders."

Korea will send a survey mission here next year to define priority areas to work on.

President Kim is keen to develop Korea's small and medium-sized industries, and sees e-commerce as a way of further strengthening these companies.

New Zealand and Korea are expected to work on sorting out some issues, such as promoting and adopting a clear and consistent legal framework governing e-commerce, and encouraging e-commerce.

Some of the policy approaches the two countries are keen to develop are on a neutral and efficient tax rule for the Internet and e-commerce, electronic authentication, and privacy and consumer protection.

Peter de Heer, e-commerce practice manager for Motherwell Information Systems, in New Zealand, said e-commerce had broken down global borders.

The New Zealand-Korean cooperation showed countries' keenness to come together to grapple with some of the issues surrounding it.

"There are still lots of grey areas on issues, such as warranty, privacy, tax and revenue recognition," he said.

"The horse has bolted ahead, and Governments around the world are trying to get a handle on the issues."