ECA
Press Release No. 02/2006, 15 March 2006
ICT
experts as well as representatives from Ministries
of Trade, Industry and Commerce, National Central
Banks, National Chambers of Commerce and the private
sector begun a 3-day forum on ICTs, trade and economic
growth.
ECA’s
Executive Secretary, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, in his welcoming
remarks, posed six key questions critical to the theme
of the forum and asked participants to consider ways
in which ICT can improve economic performance and
growth in the African context; building competitiveness
as well as increase growth in traditional and emerging
sectors in African economies; increasing Africa’s
export base in IT-enabled Services (ITES); the requirements
for a conducive regulatory environment, including
infrastructure; measure the impact of ICT in productivity;
and the constraints that face African entrepreneurs
and firms in adopting ICTs.
He
said, “There is also no doubt that the harnessing
of ICTs for development is a critical element of the
new thinking and development action that is needed
to tackle the major challenges faced by African countries
and thus should be considered as a priority.”
“ICTs
are facilitating trade and commerce activities in
Africa,” he said and pointed out examples such
as the TradeNet initiative, which allows electronic
transmission of documents between customs, freight
forwarders, shipping agents. “In the case of
Mauritius this is reducing the average time for the
clearance of goods from 4 hours to 15 minutes.”
He said.
On
his part, H.E Yves Boulanger, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary, Canada noted that the Forum is
“another great testimonial of the excellent
partnership between the UN Economic Commission for
Africa and the Government of Canada” - he said,
adding that this partnership was formed under the
e-Policy Resource Network for Africa supported by
the Canada Fund for Africa -- announced in 2002 as
Canada’s contribution to the G8 Africa Action
Plan. He also pointed to the significance of the launch
of the pan-African e-trade initiative.
“You
are setting out on a road that is not easy to travel.”
He said, adding, “Together with the ECA and
other participating partners in this project, we work
with you on that road, provide you with a map, and
a compass, but you will walk it yourself.”
Representing
the Organisation Internationale de La Francophonie
(OIF)/INTIF Mr Pierre Ouedraogo, mentioned the importance
of this theme and initiative as its one of the key
aspect of OIF’s 10-year strategic framework,
stating ‘increased ICTs will facilitate greater
access to global markets as well as improve service
delivery and develop local opportunities’.
He
said OIF is happy to be part of the ICT, trade and
economic growth forum, given that OIF and ECA began
working on security and online transactions in Africa
in 2005, making this event an extension of the collaboration
on the digital economy.
Mr
Ahmed Tussa, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Trade
and Industry Ethiopia told participants that the Ministry
is responsible for the formulation of policies and
incentive schemes aimed at enterprises in the productive
sector.
He
said the investment climate has improved in terms
of the provision of macroeconomic stability, institutional
and legal environment, efficient taxation system as
well as maintaining peace in the country. In terms
of ICTs, he highlighted the changes in telecommunications
infrastructure that have “facilitated projects
such as SchoolNet and WoredaNet projects and other
ICT programmes to take off.” He added that corporate
reforms by the ETC to increase efficiency and the
partial liberalization of the ETC are positive moves
that are bringing development to this sector.
“The
Ministry of Trade and Industry will eagerly wait for
recommendations from this Forum to see how they can
fit into our priorities.” He concluded.
Issued
by the ECA Communication Team
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: +251-1-44-58-26
Fax: +251-1-51-03-65
Email: ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: www.uneca.org
