Retrieved from Allafrica News
 http://allafrica.com/stories/200210010650.html

BuaNews (Pretoria)

October 1, 2002 
Posted to the web October 1, 2002 
By Trevor Gozhi

President Thabo Mbeki says information and communication technology skills must be imparted to local communities so as to ensure the country has a rich pool of skilled people to enhance its competitiveness in this area.

The President was addressing representatives and leaders of the business community at a conference in Sun City, in the North West, last night. 'In this way, you will be at the same time, expand the Information Communication Technology (ICT) market as more and more South Africans become consumers of your product,' he said. Mr Mbeki said government had formed two structures to facilitate discussion and common action in the area of (ICT) as part of its quest to develop a modern economy and society.

These are the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development as well as the Presidential International Advisory Council on Information Society and Development. The latter structure includes the major global leaders in the area of ICT.
Mr Mbeki said the establishment of the Advanced Institute of ICT and establishing ICT centres at schools could help communities and small businesses.

The conference also marked the coming together of the Trustees of the Crossroads Education Fund, a partnership comprising business partners aimed at funding disadvantaged students in commerce, science and technology, engineering, and ICT in their studies. The President appealed to the business community to find appropriate ways to advance the ICT sector and to build partnerships with government - at national, provincial and local levels as well as in specific communities. He said practical ways to enhance ICT programmes were to work with schools, local authorities or community structures and to put in place practical and achievable short, medium and long term objectives.

Mr Mbeki explained that the effective use of ICT in any country impacted strongly on the productivity and competitiveness of that economy as well as the ability of government to deliver on its social goals. 'This is the reason that we see the development of ICT in education as an important and necessary priority for us as well,' Mr Mbeki said.