Promoting Open Government in the Kyrgyz Republic
British Embassador gives keynote address at the “Open Data Days” in the Kyrgyz Republic 2014.
On 18 November Ambassador Judith Farnworth delivered the keynote speech at the Kyrgyz Republic’s first ever “Open Data Days” event in Bishkek organised by the Kyrgyz government in partnership with the World Bank and UNDP. In her speech, the Ambassador set out why the UK Government attaches so much importance to Open Data and outlined some of the many benefits it had brought to the UK.
Prime Minister Joomart Otorbaev hosted the event, which was attended by a wide range of Kyrgyz Ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of civil society and business as well as a number of international experts. The Prime Minister convened the event to exchange ideas on the development of Open Government and Open Data in the Kyrgyz Republic, following the adoption by the Government in early November 2014 of its e-government strategy.
Amongst the international expert speakers was Ulrich Atz from the UK’s Open Data Institute, which works closely with the UK Government to help businesses that want to use public sector data to create new products and services.
The UK is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership and is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading champions of Open Government.