The secretary-general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications
Organisation (CTO), Shola Taylor, called on delegates at the opening ceremony
of the inaugural Commonwealth ICT Investment Forum for Emerging Markets
(Commonwealth ICT Invest’17) to seize all opportunities to invest in ICTs to
achieve the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals and connect the next
billion to the benefits of the Internet, reports ITRealms.
Insufficient investment in ICTs, and in particular in
affordable technologies, has resulted in significant gaps in access to the
Internet between Commonwealth countries. It is well acknowledged that ICTs play
a crucial role in national socio-economic development and Commonwealth ICT
Invest’17 was convened in order to discuss opportunities for investment in
emerging markets and also to facilitate partnerships and collaboration.
“The exceptionally high-level calibre of participants at
this forum clearly indicates that the international community is well aware of
the challenges and opportunities presented by the lack of investment in ICTs,”
said Mr Taylor.
“They are clearly demonstrating their commitment to seizing
these opportunities and moving forward to develop their ICT sectors for the
benefit of their countries, companies, peoples, the Commonwealth and beyond.”
Held in Dubai, the heart of the modern investment world,
Commonwealth ICT Invest’17 is hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority of the UAE. The event will feature discussions on issues such as
regulating to attract investments, new investment mechanisms for ICTs, funding
mechanisms for SMEs, start-ups and incubators and investments in ICT
applications, among other topics. There will also be a number of project
showcases, designed to demonstrate national projects to potential investment
partnerships.
Investing for the future was a recurrent theme of the first
day. During the opening ceremony, Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of du,
urged delegates to develop policies that will not delay the realisation of
tomorrow’s reality.
“Investment in the ICT sector is what is most lacking when
it comes to ensuring that people around the world benefit from the Internet,”
said Gilbert Patterson, Chairman, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad
& Tobago and Chairman of the CTO Council. “We must use this event to
explore together ways to attract and encourage investment in ICTs and
affordable access as we all stand to gain from a world of universal access.”
Participants at the event include ICT ministers, ministry
representatives and telecoms regulators, development banks, regional ICT
institutions, the private sector and development agencies from Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab
Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
The forum will continue until Wednesday, featuring
discussion on innovative partnerships, investing in cybersecurity, government
strategies for stimulating ICT investment and demand and more project
showcases.
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