Presented there were at least 1 300 computer programs developed by scientists and technicians.

They include valuable process-controlling programs, devices and cells helpful to developing light industry and agriculture, improving the standard of the people's living, increasing production in power, coal and metal industries and railway transport and various other fields and improving the transportation.

Also among them are achievements made by industrial establishments, ministries and national institutions in elevating the level of IT which leader Kim Jong Il praised as pace-setters in the industrial revolution in the new century, and programs presented by teachers, researchers and students of the universities, colleges and centers for training computer talents.

The contest and exhibition are divided into 18 panels including system, artificial intelligence and sci-tech design and calculation.

It will also involve a contest in English-Korean and Chinese-Korean translation programs and anti-virus programs.

Present at the opening ceremony were officials concerned and program developers.

Choe Sang Gon, chairman of the State Science and Technology Commission, said in his opening speech that the contest and exhibition would offer a good opportunity for introducing the achievements and experience gained in the course of developing Korean-style programming technology and updating production processes.