EU aids COMESA in information, communication technology

EU aids COMESA in information, communication technology

LUSAKA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union has given theCommon Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and threeother regional groupings 120 billion Zambian kwacha (about 24 millionUS dollars) for a regional information and communications supportproject.

COMESA Secretary General Erastus Mwencha said during the signingceremony here Friday that the project is aimed at achieving areduction in the digital division by removing some of the constraintsto the efficient use of Information and Communications Technologies(ICTs) in the region.

"Currently more efficient use of ICT by entrepreneurs and policymakers is inhibited by a combination of a restrictive regulatoryenvironment, poor connectivity, poor access to commercially valuableinformation and a lack of ICT skills," Mwencha said.

The project, Mwencha said, will also contribute to the region'sintegration agenda through an effective and efficient ICT environmentwhich will reduce the cost of trade and investment.

The other three groupings are the East African Community, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the Indian OceanCommission.

COMESA is the leading organization to implement the four-yearproject starting this year to 2008. The four groupings prepared ajoint regional strategy paper and regional indicative program forimproving ICTs.

It is expected to deliver among other things the development andmonitoring of implementation of ICT policy guidelines and strategiesin the region, the provision of high-speed internet connectivity tokey regional stakeholders, the improved and more efficient access toeconomic, commercial and practical information for the public andprivate sectors through establishment of regional internet portals.