Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa – eTransform Africa
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Event Description
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to transform business and government in Africa, driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth. A new flagship report – eTransform Africa – produced by the African Development Bank and the World Bank, with the support of the African Union, identifies best practice in the use of ICTs in key sectors of the African economy. Under the theme “Transformation¬ Ready”, the growing contribution of ICTs to agriculture, climate change adaptation, education, financial services, government services and health is explored.
In addition, the report highlights the role of ICTs in enhancing African regional trade and integration as well as the need to build a competitive ICT industry to boost innovation, job creation and the export potential of African companies. ICTs have the potential to transform business and government in Africa, driving entrepre¬neurship, innovation and economic growth. The study received financial support from Korea Trust Fund (KTF).
The eTransform Africa study grew out of the African Union Summit of ICT Ministers, held in Addis Ababa in January 2010. At that meeting, ministers expressed their belief in the transformational power of ICTs and their view that Africa was poised for a new era of growth that would take advantage of the platform laid by investment in new networks over the previous decade. In the 2000s, the focus had been on connectivity, bringing more and more of Africa’s citizens into the information society and building ever¬ faster connections to the rest of the world. The purpose of this side event is to share the key study findings and promote the understanding of pre-conditions for successful transformational use of ICT for social-economic development of the Bank’s RMCs.