Remarks by Omar Kabbaj, President of the African Development bank at the opening session of the African development forum

Abstract

Remarks by Omar Kabbaj President of the African Development Bank at the opening session of the “African Development Forum” Economic Commission for Africa. President Kabbaj. On his remarks highlighted that, Information technology provides new ways of exchanging information, and transacting business. The world is rapidly moving towards knowledge-based economic structures and information societies, which comprise networks of individuals, firms and countries linked electronically in an interdependent and interactive relationship. In fields where Africa faces difficult obstacles, information technology holds a large potential as a rapid and relatively inexpensive means of surmounting them. By way of illustration, let us take the possibilities for human capital development. Information technology has the potential for connecting African educational institutions continent-wide, and linking them with international universities, hence, facilitating research and the exchange of ideas. African countries need, as a matter of priority, to upgrade their capabilities through the improvement of their telecommunication infrastructures and the acquisition of computer and computer-related equipment.