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(Date Posted:26/05/2008 13:09:57)
The Senior officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States have the power and responsibility to utilise ICT to create an all inclusive information society not only at country level but at the level of the region. This was stated by the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Mr. E. Sinatambou, at the opening ceremony of the two-day Meeting of Senior Officials for Telecommunications, Postal and ICT this morning at the La Plantation Resort. The meeting precedes the Meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Telecommunications, postal and ICT scheduled for May 28. The Senior Officials comprise Permanent and Principal Secretaries, Directors-General and National Directors responsible for telecommunications, postal and ICT portfolios from SADC countries. During the two-day sessions, Senior Officials will, among others, review the regional policy agenda and development strategies and assess the implementation of those strategies. Participants will also craft the agenda and formulate recommendations for approval for the ministers' meeting. In his address, Mr. Sinatambou called for the Officials to ensure continuity of SADC resolution and recommendation, which he said was their duty and responsibility to bring to fruition. He added that ICT has the power to transform economies and has become key priority for government in wake of globalisation and technology revolutions. The Minister also said that we are in an era where government, private sector and civil society can transform people's lives and aspirations but that we need to adopt and adapt to technological revolutions smoothly as well as rapidly and ensure we are on the right side of technology innovation. He urged member states to work together to forge a common position in face of the challenges of digital divide confronting the region.
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