ECA embarks on first phase of disposal of obsolete records
ECA Press Release No. 72/2012
Addis Ababa, 16 May 2012 (ECA) – The Economic Commission for Africa today witnessed the first phase of the destruction of old records as part of an organization wide exercise of managing archives and records.

ECA donates books to Dire Dawa University
ECA Press Release No. 71/2012
Addis Ababa, 14 May 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(EC) library service donated over one thousand books to Dire Dawa University as part of its outreach efforts to disseminate ECA’s publications throughout the region. 

Private sector leaders optimistic about future of the continent
ECA Press Release No. 70/2012
Addis Ababa, 09 May 2012 (ECA) –African experts addressing a panel discussion organized on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum yesterday agreed that the continent has great potential and there is a historic opportunity for turning the current economic upturn into lasting and broad-based development.

Janneh urges the private sector to move Africa’s development agenda forward
ECA Press Release No. 69/2012
Addis Ababa, 09 May 2012 (ECA) – UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Abdoulie Janneh today called on the private sector “to make its expected contribution to the transformation of Africa and invest in activities that add value to the commodities and natural resources that abound in the continent”.

Industry players and ministers concurr on harmonized approaches to miningECA Press Release No. 68/2012
Addis Ababa, 09 May 2012 (ECA) – On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, an Industry Partnership session for Mining and Metals underscored today that mining companies must work closely with governments and civil society on the basis of established legal frameworks in order to boost development. A cross-section of global mining companies, including Rio Tinto and Anglo-American, mining ministers and civil society concurred that the time has come for the mining industry to operate on the basis of a more harmonized approach that clarifies the nature and process of mining activities for the benefit of the companies, government and communities.

Opening Remarks by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
9 May 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
World Economic Forum on Africa 2012, UNECA Side Event on "Africa 2050 – A Private Sector Perspective"

Experts to discuss the role of the private sector in shaping Africa’s position as a global growth pole
ECA Press Release No. 67/2012
Addis Ababa, 07 May 2012 (ECA) – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is hosting a panel discussion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on the theme: Africa 2050: A Private Sector Perspective to further dialogue on the role of the private sector on Africa’s development goals on Wednesday 9 May at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC).

Mbeki Panel on Illicit Financial Flows adopts framework action plan for Africa
ECA Press Release No. 66/2012
Johannesburg, 06 May 2012 (ECA) – The Second Session of the Meeting of the High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa at the weekend adopted a framework action plan to jumpstart its activities and place illicit financial flows on the forefront of policy discourse on the continent.

ECA research reveals trade diversification taking root in Africa
ECA Press Release No. 65/2012
Addis Ababa, 04 May 2012 (ECA) – Lusaka, Zambia 04 May 2012 (ECA) – At a two-day meeting of Experts discussing Metrology, Export Diversification and Intra-Industry Trade in Africa a senior UN official this week said, that there is increasing evidence that African countries are engaging in more diversification in trade and that this process is taking root.

Knowledge Management training kicks off to strengthen collaboration in support of Southern African member states
ECA Press Release No. 64/2012
Addis Ababa, 04 May 2012 (ECA) –A two-day training workshop on Knowledge Management opened on 3 May 2012 in Johannesburg South Africa and brought together 16 participants drawn from SADC, COMESA, GIZ, UNDP, NEPAD and member States covered by the Southern Africa Office of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

At ‘54 One Union Conference’, ECA urges countries to integrate into strong, diversified economy
ECA Press Release No. 63/2012
Addis Ababa, 04 May 2012 (ECA) – On the second day of the Third international Conference, “54 countries, One Union” taking place from 3-4 May in Addis Ababa, a senior UN official said Africa’s multi-faceted challenges require strategies that offer regional, subregional and continental solutions and as such, "the need for the integration of the continent is stronger than ever."

Civil Society Organizations undergo post-conflict training in Cote D'Ivoire
ECA Press Release No. 61/2012
Addis Ababa, 04 May 2012 (ECA) –The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) organized a three-day training from 3-5 April 2012 on Building the Capacity of CSOs in Post-Conflict Situations in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), practitioners and experts actively engaged in conflict management and peace building.

Experts to meet on Metrology, Export Diversification and Intra-Industry Trade in Africa
ECA Press Release No. 60/2012
Addis Ababa, 02 May 2012 (ECA) –The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the United Nations for Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is organizing an Expert Group Meeting on Metrology, Export Diversification and Intra-Industry Trade in Africa, to be held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 3-4 May, 2012.

Nigeria’s ICT Measurement Report launched
ECA Press Release No. 59/2012
Addis Ababa, 30 April 2012 (ECA) –The Nigerian National ICT Development Agency (NITDA) and the ICT and Science and Technology Division (ISTD) launched the Nigeria SCAN-ICT final report during a Stakeholders’ validation workshop in Abuja on 26 April 2012.

EU 8 Million Euro grant to strengthen Africa’s response to climate change
ECA Press Release No. 58/2012
Addis Ababa, 27 April 2012 (ECA) – The European Union today granted the ClimDev Africa initiative the sum of 8 Million Euro to support Africa's response to climate variability and climate change by developing African policy capacity.

Inclusive growth, job creation and attention to human needs underpin UNCTADXIII conclusions
ECA Press Release No. 57/2012
Doha, 27 April 2012 (ECA) – The Thirteenth Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) closed in Doha, Qatar, today with a call to orient financial flows towards supporting inclusive and sustainable development.
African countries urged to tap into trillions packed in Sovereign Wealth Funds
ECA Press Release No. 56/2012
Doha, 26 April 2012 (ECA) – Africa needs to find ways to tap into the US $5 trillion Sovereign Wealth assets belonging to oil-exporting developing countries, as well as China. These funds grow at an average of 10 per cent every year, according to participants at a session on investments held this week during UNCTADXIII.

SADC experts adopt e-commerce strategy to fast-track intra-regional trade, economic integration  
ECA Press Release No. 54/2012
Balaclava, Mauritius, 24 April 2012 (ECA) - The e-commerce readiness assessment report, strategy and plan of action for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which has been under review since 2010 is now ready for submission to the ICT Ministerial meeting next month, according to experts who validated the documents in Mauritius last week.

Calls made to integrate, industrialize and add value
ECA Press Release No. 53/2012
Doha, 24 April 2012 (ECA) –"As part of the developing South, Africa has little choice but to industrialize, create bigger markets and minimize fragmentation as a means to deliver more balanced growth", said panelists at a special session held this week dubbed, The rise of the South; the world turned upside down.
Africa Trade Policy Centre - Supporting the Continent's Trade Agenda
ECA Press Release No. 52/2012
Doha, 22 April 2012 (ECA) –Senior officials of the Economic Commission for Africa participated in a special session of UN agencies that are members of an Inter Agency Cluster on Trade and Productive Capacity. The session was held on the sidelines of the ongoing UNCTAD XIII  on ways to foster more cooperation and enhance synergies among themselves. The cluster has as its main focus, strengthening trade and productive capacities of countries.
Partnerships needed to boost intra-African trade-Janneh
ECA Press Release No. 51/2012
Doha, 21 April 2012 (ECA) – In a statement made at a special session for African Ministers of Trade a day before the opening of the UNCTAD XIII quadrennial conference on the theme: Prosperity for All, Under-Executive Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Mr. Aboulie Janneh said Africa will need the contribution of its partners to achieve its objective of boosting intra-Africa trade.
Janneh says Continental Free Trade Area good for growth and boosting development
ECA Press Release No. 50/2012
Doha, 20 April 2012 (ECA) –UN Under Secretary-General and ECA’s Executive Secretary Mr. Abdoulie Janneh today said that Africa’s intra-African trade could be enhanced by 50.7% over a 12-year period with the creation of a Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. In addition, better trade facilitation could result in a two-fold increase in the share of intra-African trade over the next ten years.
Statement by Mr Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
UNCTAD XII Meeting of African Trade Ministers

Steering Committee Members say Land Policy implementation on track
ECA Press Release No. 49/2012
Addis Ababa, 05 April 2012 (ECA) – The Steering Committee of the African Land Policy Initiative (LPI) today expressed satisfaction at the progress registered with the implementation of the African Union declaration on land issues in Africa.

Africa Forum on Science Technology and Innovation Opened
ECA Press Release No. 47/2012
Nairobi, 03 April 2012 (ECA) – A three-day Science Technology and Innovation Forum opened March 31st in Nairobi, Kenya on the theme, “Youth Employment, Human Capital Development and Inclusive Growth”.

Addis Ababa to showcase Africa’s fashion industry with a sustainable development focus
ECA Press Release No. 46/2012
Addis Ababa, 03 April 2012 (ECA) – From the 24-27 April 2012, three service-industry oriented companies: Clairvoyant Marketing Agency, In the Bag and Origin Africa will be hosting The Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week 2012. The show will take place in the newly-built African Union conference centre and will host symposiums with industry leaders from across Africa, including the Economic Commission for Africa’s Africa Trade Policy Centre.

Janneh gets first NEPAD Most Valued Partner Award
ECA Press Release No. 45/2012
Addis Ababa, 28 March 2012 (ECA) – The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency today in Addis Ababa acknowledged the pan-African spirit and unrivalled support of the Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, awarding him the first Most Valued Partner (MVP) Award at a ceremony marking the agency’s 10th Anniversary.

NEPAD takes stock, readies for domestic resource mobilization to implement program
ECA Press Release No. 44/2012
Addis Ababa, 28 March 2012 (ECA) – “If there were no NEPAD, there would be need to establish one” said a participant at today’s colloquium and congress organized by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in collaboration with partners including the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) as part of activities assessing the achievements and challenges of the pan-African initiative over the past 10 years.
:: Statement by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the NEPAD 10th Anniversary Colloquium and Congress

African countries urged to influence the post- MDG development agenda
ECA Press Release No. 43/2012
Africa braces to become global growth pole, agrees most solutions must come from within
ECA Press Release No. 42/2012
2012 Economic Report on Africa (ERA) emphasizes region’s role in propelling global growth
ECA Press Release No. 41/2012
African ingenuity celebrated at the 2012 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) awards ceremony
ECA Press Release No. 40/2012
Statement by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh
UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
Egyptian Wins First Innovation Prize for Africa
ECA Press Release No. 39/2012
Africa mulls options for turning region into a global development pole
ECA Press Release No. 38/2012
Prime Minister Zenawi Opens Ministerial Session on Africa’s Global Growth Pole Agenda
ECA Press Release No. 37/2012
Experts reflect on the different paths to Africa’s growth
ECA Press Release No. 36/2012
ECA states 8 reasons why Africa could become next global growth pole
ECA Press Release No. 35/2012
Janneh urges Africa to develop capacity needed for its transformation
ECA Press Release No. 34/2012
Experts confident that Africa can claim the 21st Century
ECA Press Release No. 33/2012
Economy and Finance Experts Meet to Discuss Africa’s Potential as a Pole of Global Growth
Conference web page  Photo Gallery

Media actors exchange ideas on Africa's potential as new pole of global growth
ECA Press Release No. 32/2012
Addis Ababa, 21 March 2012 (ECA) – A one-day media workshop was held Wednesday, for journalists from around Africa covering this year’s Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

ECA, League of Arab States sign to strengthen cooperation
Addis Ababa, 19 March 2012 (ECA) - The League of Arab States and the UN Economic Commission for Africa at the weekend took a formal commitment to strengthen cooperation between the two bodies by signing a Memorandum of  Understanding which stipulates the specific areas that need urgent attention.

UNECA and UIRI partner to promote engineering innovations for improved healthcare in Uganda
ECA Press Release No. 31/2012
Lusaka, 16 March 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) and their key national partners- Makerere University and Kyambogo university; have agreed to forge a close collaboration to promote biomedical engineering for improved healthcare in the country.

ECA's subregional office in Southern Africa gets a new Director
ECA Press Release No. 30/2012
Lusaka, 16 March 2012 (ECA) –Ms Beatrice Kiraso, the new Director appointed for ECA’s subregional office in South Africa (SRO-SA) has reported for duties, substantively filling a position that has been vacant for close to two years.

ECA leads UN Family in celebrating International Women’s Day
Addis Ababa, 14 March 2012 (ECA) - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) led the rest of the UN family in Ethiopia in a staff celebration event to mark International Women’s Day on the theme: “Empower rural women: End hunger and poverty”.

A one-day national workshop of the RIIA-E was held at the UNECA Headquarters on 15 March 2012
Addis Ababa, 15 March 2012 (ECA) - The workshop was attended by over hundred participants drawn from government and academic institutions, individual inventors as well as private sector representatives. It was organized by ICT, Science & Technology Division (ISTD) of the ECA and the RIIA-E as a follow-up to the outcomes of the second Science with Africa conference.

Janneh says concrete programme necessary to render water accessible to rural Africa
ECA Press Release No. 29/2012
Marseilles, 14 March 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has called on participants at the ongoing 6th World Water Forum to agree on concrete actions to facilitate the delivery of safe water to millions of Africans who remain in need.

Malian youth tells the world to act on water scarcity now, not later 
ECA Press Release No. 28/2012
Marseilles, 12 March 2012 (ECA) – Two young people from Mali today pricked the global conscience with moving testimonies from their native village whose perennial predicament is often that of  little water under the stifling sun rays that never seem to fade.

The First Innovation Prize for Africa to be awarded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ECA Press Release No. 27/2012
Addis Ababa, 12 March 2012 (ECA) –The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) are delighted to announce the establishment of the African Innovation Prize worth USD 100,000 for the winner and USD 50,000 for the runner-up.

Finance Ministers to discuss turning Africa into the Growth Pole of the World
ECA/AU Press Release No. 26/2012
Addis Ababa, 12 March 2012 (ECA/AU) – African Finance Ministers will be meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia later this month to discuss the actions needed to turn Africa into a New Growth Pole for the global economy.

North Africa Intergovernmental Committee of Experts sets agenda for growth
ECA Press Release No. 25/2012
Rabat, 10 March 2012 (ECA) – The 27th session of North Africa Intergovernmental Committee of Experts which ended in Rabat at the weekend came out with a series of proposals aimed at clearing logjams that inhibit North Africa from becoming a pole of sustainable growth, according to the Information and Communication Service of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

Janneh pledges ECA support to Congo’s President
ECA Press Release No. 24/2012
Addis Ababa, , 08 March 2012 (ECA) – UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr Abdoulie Janneh, has assured the Head of State of the Republic of Congo, Mr. Denis Sassou N’Guesso, of ECA’s solidarity in association with the international community to support the Congolese Government, following the explosions in Brazzaville early on Sunday 4 march, which killed at least 200 persons. In a letter addressed to the Congolese Head of State, Mr. Janneh expresses the condolence of all ECA colleagues to Mr. Sassou N’Guesso, the Government of Congo and the families and friends of victims of the explosions.

The need for change: Increasing competitiveness and rethinking regional integration
ECA Press Release No. 23/2012
Rabat, 06 March 2012 (ECA) – The 27th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of the Office for North Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, began in Rabat (Morocco) and was enhanced by the presence of Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Economy and Finance. Participants included high-level representatives of Member States (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, the Sudan and Tunisia), as well as national and international experts, representatives of regional and international organizations, the private sector, the civil society, the academia and the media.

World Conference Rio +20 - North Africa is Getting Ready
ECA Press Release No. 22/2012
Rabat, 01 March 2012 (ECA) – One of the highlights of the 27th session of ICE to be organized by the Office for North Africa of ECA (Rabat, 6- 9 March 2012) will be the Expert Group Meeting on "Rio + 20: Progress and Challenges for North Africa”. Scheduled to convene on March 7, one day after the ICE kick starts, this meeting has two major objectives: i) to assess the nature and extent of progress the sub region has made in the area of sustainable development, and ii) to build consensus on what North Africa can expect from Rio +20 Conference due to be held in June 2012.

North Africa can contribute to making the African continent become a pole of growth
ECA Press Release No. 21/2012
Rabat, 01 March 2012 (ECA) – How to optimize the role that North Africa can play to help unleash the Continent’s potential as a growth pole in the world? This is the theme around which will be held the 27th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) that the Office for North Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA/ NAO) is convening from 6 to 9 March 2012 in Rabat, (Morocco).

ECA will push for a harmonized energy platform in Central Africa - Janneh
ECA Press Release No. 20/2012
Brazzaville, 01 March 2012 (ECA) – UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh has called upon a host of Congolese ministers and experts from across Central Africa to count on ECA’s unwavering technical support in the development of the sub region’s huge energy potential to meet the needs of their countries, in particular, and of Africa as a whole.

Minister of Tourism officially opens 18th Session of ICE, says Africa should tap into cultural tourism
ECA Press Release No. 19/2012
Port Louis, 01 March 2012 (ECA) – The 18 Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts(ICE) was officially opened his morning by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, John Michael Sik Yuen.

Southern Africa should seize current global focus on continent as investment destination - Experts
ECA Press Release No. 18/2012
Port Louis, 29 February 2012 (ECA) – A 2-day Expert group meeting has recommended today in Mauritius that southern Africa should reposition itself to reap from benefits of direct foreign investment currently flowing on the continent.

Mauritius: Sea, Sand, Sun and why it must diversify its tourism
ECA Press Release No. 17/2012
Port Louis, 29 February 2012 (ECA) –The Island of Mauritius is synonymous to leisure. Renowned for its beaches and bluest of waters, Mauritius is a destination for merry makers with 92 percent of its visitors coming purely to enjoy its sea, sun and sand in turn, creating over 28,000 direct jobs and accounting for 10 percent to its GDP.

The battle against corruption to be won through concerted action
ECA Press Release No. 152012
Kigali, 22 February 2012 (ECA) – A meeting of experts to advance Africa’s anti-corruption agenda has called for “concerted action in the battle against corruption and a strategic, multi-faceted approach that brings on board multiple actors and stakeholders.”

Experts meet to advance Africa's anti-corruption agenda
ECA Press Release No. 14/2012
Kigali, 21 February 2012 (ECA) – African experts working on anti-corruption issues are holding a meeting in Kigali to reflect on their role in advancing the continent’s anti corruption agenda. The meeting concludes on 21 February 2012.

Experts from Central Africa to address the Region’s energy challenges
ECA Press Release No. 13/2012
Yaoundé, 20 February 2012 (ECA) – At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Congo, the Sub Regional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA/SRO-CA) is organizing a meeting of experts to address the challenges being faced by Central African countries in satisfying their energy needs.

ECA to assist Tanzania on its ICT policy review
ECA Press Release No. 12/2012
Dar es Salaam, 16 February 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will lead the review process for the national ICT policy of Tanzania in cooperation with its Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology and the Government of Finland. The review process will focus on a second policy that actively involves stakeholders, as well as take into account current emerging trends, incorporating issues such as cyber-security, e-security, and reflecting Tanzania’s national development vision 2025.

Amid global economic turmoil, Eastern Africa continues to record growth
ECA Press Release No. 11/2012
Dar es Salaam, 12 February 2012 (ECA) – A report released on 13th February by the Sub-Region Office for Eastern Africa (SRO-EA) of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) revealed that the Eastern Africa region grew in 2011 at 6.6 percent, and is forecast to grow at 6.8 percent in 2012.

APRM to help transform the management of mineral resources in Africa
ECA Press Release No. 10/2012
Dar es Salaam, 12 February 2012 (ECA) – The extractive industry is a dominant sector in many African economies and accounts for a significant share of its exports, yet it has not spurred broad-based development and economic structural transformation on the continent. Improving governance and management systems anchored on strong and capable institutions are some of the key factors to addressing this challenge and harnessing Africa’s mineral endowments for growth and development.

UNECA to support Kenyatta University establish a Biomedical Engineering Program
ECA Press Release No. 09/2012
Nairobi, 06 February 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Kenyatta University have agreed to work together in building a biomedical engineering programme at the university.

ECA official highlights links between social protection and poverty alleviation
ECA Press Release No. 08/2012
New York, 02 February 2012 (ECA) – A senior official of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said in New York today that social protection schemes are important for poverty alleviation, economic growth and development in Africa, citing conclusions of two regional studies recently conducted by ECA.

UN Secretary General calls for urgent action to avert major crisis in South Sudan
ECA Press Release No. 07/2012
Addis Ababa, 29 January 2012 (ECA) - The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban ki-Moon has warned that unless African countries take immediate action to resolve the simmering conflict between South Sudan and Sudan, it could easily degenerate into a serious humanitarian crisis.

Ban ki-Moon rolls out agenda for progress and action in Africa, hails successes in Somalia
ECA Press Release No. 06/2012
Addis Ababa, 29 January 2012 (ECA) - The UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban ki-Moon today rolled out his agenda for progress and action in Africa, which, he said, was based on renewed investments in civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Africans on which the continent’s future depends.

Africa needs to safeguard its economic growth, Janneh tells leaders
ECA Press Release No. 05/2012
Addis Ababa, 28 January 2012 (ECA) - The United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa today  reminded African leaders of the need to watch against new threats from other parts of the global economy which could hamper Africa’s current development trajectory.

Experts meeting to review e-commerce readiness of SADC member countries started
ECA Press Release No. 04/2012
Luanda, Angola, 24 January 2012 (ECA) A two-day mid-term review meeting of the SADC study on e-commerce opened this week in Luanda, Angola and brought together more than 40 ICT experts from Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Mauritius and South-Africa.

African Statisticians Adopt the Robben Island Declaration
ECA Press Release No. 03/2012
Cape Town, 24 January 2012 (ECA) - The African statistical community Monday adopted the Robben Island Declaration on Statistical Development with the ambition of using statistics to help free the continent from poverty.

ECA, Government of Egypt commit to foster ties in ICT development
ECA Press Release No. 02/2012
Addis Ababa, 19 January 2012 (ECA) - The Government of Egypt and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to participate in the development of Information and Communication Technology to foster the implementation of action lines of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).