WeGO receives embassy support for new regional initiatives

March 29, 2021

SEOUL – Since the start of the new year, WeGO’s Secretary General Kyong-yul Lee has held continuous meetings with heads of diplomatic missions in Korea, in an effort to expand the organization’s work and to gain support for the new initiative of creating regional network for Latin America and Africa.

The Latin American Smart Cities Network (LASCN) is envisioned as an open-ended platform for local governments across Latin America to exchange knowledge and foster cooperation on smart city development in these regions. 

Accordingly, SG Lee met with the ambassadors of Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay to discuss the LASCN, among others. The diplomatic missions welcomed the initiatives and vowed to assist in the establishment of the network.

SG Lee also attended the Korea-LAC Digital Cooperation Forum as an online participant, and received two foreign delegations from Brazil and Costa Rica, the former headed by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Brazil, and the latter headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica to build up momentum for LASCN.

WeGO is also hoping to strengthen cooperation in Africa and received positive feedback from the heads of the Angolan, Rwandan, and South African embassies on the matter. More discussions with relevant stakeholders will take place in the coming weeks towards the establishment of an Africa Smart Cities Network.

LASCN’s first event will take place in late June, and serve to officially introduce the initiative to interested cities and partners. This LASCN Pre-Workshop will also be an opportunity to identify the smart city challenges and needs in the region.