[kictanet] ITU and AfDB join hands

Tue Oct 30 11:13:19 EAT 2007

ITU and AfDB join forces to Interconnect African Capitals and Major Cities
Collaboration to achieve key Connect Africa Summit Goals
Issued jointly by ITU and the African Development Bank

Kigali, Rwanda, 30 October 2007 — The
International Telecommunication Union and the African Development Bank
(AfDB) agreed to collaborate on interconnecting all African capitals
and major cities with ICT broadband infrastructure and strengthen
connectivity to the rest of the world by 2012.

Commenting on the challenge ahead, Mr Kaberuka said,
“In recent years, private investment in ICT infrastructure, especially
in mobile phone networks, has had an enormous impact in many parts of
Africa, but major gaps remain. The development banks and other
financing partners have a responsibility to step in where these gaps
are holding back development in the region.” 

Secretary-General of ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré and
President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Mr Donald Kaberuka
announced this today at the Connect Africa Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

“The solution for African development is not charity,”
Dr Touré said. “African countries need modern, reliable broadband ICT
infrastructure to attract investment for jobs and economic growth. This
is about economic independence and strengthening Africa’s competitive
position in the global economy.”

As part of this collaboration, ITU and AfDB will
actively mobilize partners and financing to close ICT broadband
infrastructure gaps between major centres in Africa. AfDB hosts the
Secretariat of the African Infrastructure Consortium, which brings
together major donors and financial institutions active in the region.
This group plays a crucial role in the financing of projects, as well
as in ensuring a coherent approach among those involved.

“The Bank aims to stimulate economic growth and
climate and facilitate economic integration. We want to make the
economies of Africa more competitive, and therefore AfDB is committing
to the development of information and communication technology across
the continent,” Dr Kaberuka said.

To support the implementation of ICT infrastructure
projects funded by the AfDB or other interested financing partners, ITU
will serve as an executing agency and provide telecommunications
expertise and technical assistance, where the need arises. ITU will
also mobilize its base of more than 650 Sector Members, including many
leading ICT industry players.

To support new ICT infrastructure investments and fill
in remaining gaps, ITU and AfDB will jointly undertake feasibility
studies and develop project proposals in consultation with Member
States and other stakeholders in the region.

With the aim of rationalizing available funds and
building on efforts in other sectors, ITU and AfDB will also work
together to promote wider integration of ICT with other major
infrastructure investments. This would include laying broadband fibre
alongside transport and energy projects, as well as encouraging
innovative infrastructure sharing approaches among
telecommunication/ICT operators.

ITU and AfDB also agreed to collaborate in assisting
countries to develop policies and regulations to encourage new ICT
infrastructure investments.

About AfDB
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier
development finance institution which is dedicated to combating poverty
and improving living conditions across the continent. The ADB Group is
also engaged in mobilizing resources for the economic and social
progress of its Regional Member Countries.

The Bank’s mission is to promote economic and social development through loans, equity investments and technical assistance.

The Group includes:

The African Development Bank (ADB) is a
multilateral development bank whose shareholders include 53 African
countries (regional member countries—RMCs) and 24 non-African countries
from the Americas, Asia, and Europe (non-regional member
countries—non-RMCs). It was established in 1964, with its headquarters
in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and officially began operations in 1967. The
Bank has been operating from its Temporary Relocation Agency in Tunis
since February 2003. 

The African Development Fund (ADF). Established
in 1973, the ADF, which comprises the ADB and State Participants,
became operational in 1974. Its main objective is to reduce poverty in
RMCs by providing low-income RMCs with concessional loans and grants
for projects and programs, as well as technical assistance for studies
and capacity-building activities.

About ITU
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for
information and communication technology issues, and the global focal
point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and
services. For more than 140 years, ITU has coordinated the shared
global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in
assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication
infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide
standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of
communications systems.

ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions
and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of
government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas,
knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and
in particular the developing world.

From broadband internet to latest-generation wireless
technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio
astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from phone and fax services
to TV broadcasting and next-generation networks, ITU continues to play
a central role in helping the world communicate.

About Connect Africa
The Connect Africa Summit takes place in
Kigali, Rwanda, 29-30 October 2007, under the patronage of Mr Paul
Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Mr John Kufuor,
President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of the African Union.
It is being organized by the International Telecommunication Union, the
African Union, the World Bank Group and the United Nations Global
Alliance for ICT and Development, in partnership with the African
Development Bank, the African Telecommunication Union, the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Global Digital
Solidarity Fund.

The overall objective of the Connect Africa Summit is
to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to
close Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gaps throughout
Africa. The Summit offers a venue for leaders from the public, private
and financial sectors to network face-to-face and forge new
partnerships. Debate centres on the key success factors vital to
advance ICT investment and boost growth in Africa, including the
expansion of broadband infrastructure, “last mile” access and rural
connectivity solutions, establishing a business-friendly policy and
regulatory environment, developing an ICT skilled workforce and
relevant applications and services, and striking a balance between
private and public investment.

Tel. 254 720 318 925 
blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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