The first Global ICT Forum for the least developed countries (LDCs), recently held in Mauritius, considered ways to help least developed countries join the Information Society. Organised by the International Telecommunication Union and the Commonwealth Business Council and held in association with NEPAD's E-Africa Commission, the Forum enabled development partners to hold a series of negotiations on innovative development solutions and practical strategies for deploying information and communication technology (ICT) projects that can help the world's poorest countries break away from the poverty trap.
150 participants from government, business, civil society and donor agencies took part. The meeting followed a two-track format: one track set the stage with presentations by the various stakeholders of their expectations, requirements and initiatives, while the other brought together government and small and medium-sized enterprises from the LDCs in one-to-one meetings with development partners to discuss specific areas of cooperation.
For example, Mali sought assistance on an e-government project to link 27 ministries through the Internet. USAID, whose assistance programmes focus on facilitating the provision of e-government services to increase transparency, particularly in government procurement projects, responded positively to Mali's call. Lesotho's plea for assistance in strengthening the regulatory skills of the regulatory agency's board members raised positive interest from the African Development Bank, which also showed great interest in financing two SMEs from Malawi and Mauritius.
The meeting aimed at stimulating positive change. In particular, it examined proposals and models that can be translated into concrete projects mainly in the areas of infrastructure, universal access, education services and entrepreneurship development. It also sought to identify possible sources of funding.
"Technological developments, if left unmanaged, can widen the current digital gap and trap developing and least developed countries in a perpetual spiral of poverty and exclusion," said Hamadoun I. Touré, director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau.
Warning governments against over-regulation that can stifle innovation, Touré urged them to ensure they put in place dynamic but flexible and transparent regulatory regimes. He challenged business leaders to explore the abundant market opportunities that remain untapped in least developed countries. While cautious, he expressed confidence that the private sector was now able to develop services in LDCs that have set up adequate regulatory environments with the perspective of an adequate return on their investment.
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