Subregional Seminar on Internet for East African Countries : Opening statement by Dr. K.Y. Amoako Under United Nations secretary general and executive secretary, ECA

Abstract

Opening Statement by Dr. K.Y. Amoako Under United Nations Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, ECA at the Sub regional Seminar on Internet for East African Countries. Mr. Amoako, on his remarks highlighted that, The African Information Society Initiative has been referred to in various national development plans in African countries, and its main principles are guiding development partners in their operations in the continent. In implementing AISI, ECA collaborates with various partners including UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank, IDRC, ITU, USAID, UNITAR, UNIDO, and FAO who are also coordinating their activities in the following areas: policy awareness, Internet connectivity, training of ICT professionals, development of national information and communication infrastructure plans, sector applications and content creation, democratizing information access. The role of information in the development process cannot be over emphasized, and it becomes more crucial when it comes to economic integration and networking, where decision makers need to have access to accurate and timely information to enable them to make wise and appropriate decisions.