African Union Commission -2013 African ICT Week Conference & Exhibition officially opens in Ethiopia, Launched by Commissioner El-Hamm
By Peterking Quaye, December 2, Addis Ababa-The 2013 African ICT Week is stared in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, the event is expected to be the convergence of ICT and technology industry players to talk about the progress and success gain the sector in Africa.
It will bring together over 500 participants to draw attention to the values of ICT whilst specifically promoting the use of ICT and outline the vision of the African Union in building a vibrant knowledge economy and information society for Africa. The theme of the 50th celebration is “Promoting Pan-Africanism, African Renaissance through ICT towards AU 2063 Vision”.
The 50th anniversary certainly offers a unique opportunity to pay special tribute to the generation of Pan-Africanists and the founding fathers of the AU. The ICT Week will be used also as an opportunity to explore further how Communication and Information and Technologies (CITs) will contribute to promoting this AU vision 2063, the Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance.
Despite several donors funding the ICT/Technology project in Africa like the €5.1-million fund that has been made available to facilitate the building of Internet exchange points (IXPs) in 30 African countries that do not have IXPs , AU Convention of cybercrime security among several collaborations with EU to see that African can make gains in ICT/Technology .
At the opening of the conference Commissioner of AU- Infrastructure & Energy Department Dr. Elham M. A. Ibrahim said this year event is very special as it coincides with the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the Organization of Africa Unity now Africa Union, “we see this event will bring a lot to transform the continent in ICT/Technology” let all participate and have a fruitful deliberations she added. Indeed, this is a time to reflect on Africa’s journey over the last five decades and celebrate the unique role played by Communication and Information Technologies (CIT: Telecom/ICT-Internet/Broadcasting & Posts) in the development of Africa as well as its invaluable contribution towards the objective of achieving integration and unity of the continent. The Department of Infrastructure and Energy (which is in charge of ICT through its Information Society Division is organizing the 2013 ICT Week which also be celebrated across the continent. The week is meant to provide an opportunity to reflect on the gains Africa has made in harnessing ICTs towards realizing a knowledge-based economy and explore the potential of this sector to transform Africa.
The objectives of the weeklong event is to celebrate 50 years of achievements in ICT/Technology in Africa: Evolution of ICT, Trends, showcasing best practices and exhibition, discussions on the challenges of ICT/Technology development in Africa: Continental and cross border infrastructure and service providing, discussion on Internet Governance issues: Africa’s contribution to the problematic, Considering the Future and Trends of ICT in Africa.
Participants at the event will be from across the continent and key stakeholders from across the globe the celebrations shall gather, Member States notably the CITMC Bureau and Steering Committee of the Conference, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to AUC,BRICS representatives, Commissioners and Experts from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) ,Executives from the AUC major Partners and ICT stakeholders: ATU,PAPU, UNECA, ITU, UPU, ICANN, ISOC, EU, African Associations of Regulators, GSMA,CEO and representatives of the major (GSM) operators in Africa and Technology providers, Officials from AfDB and World Bank, Representatives from Academia and Civil society and Exhibitors. The event continues until the 7th of December, 2013, in Addis Ababa .
