Call for unity at 19th AU Summit
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica - July 16, 2012, 7:04 a.m.
Heads of State meeting in Addis Ababa for the 19th African Union Summit say Africa is becoming a pole for economic growth.
AU Chairperson, Dr. Boni Yayi, President of the Republic of Benin said at the official opening of the Summit yesterday that the continent’s economic prospects looked positive. “Africa is fast becoming a pole of economic growth”, he said. President Yayi explained that this is an opportunity to lift Africa from poverty and help in the efforts to attain the MDGs.
In his address, Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission, said the summit is an opportunity to sensitize the Heads of State on the importance of boosting intra-African trade, given that intra African trade currently stands at only 10%.
He underscored the need to strengthen unity and African solidarity on the continent.
Ping also expressed satisfaction on the resilience of the continent in the face of the global economic crisis.
Also at the Summit, South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma won a close battle and became the first woman elected to head of the African Union Commission.
MORE GOVERNMENT NEWS
USD5.8 billion for digital migration
Huawei Technologies says its contract to supply Malawi’s digital broadcasting equipment is worth USD5.8 billion. Read MoreCôte d’Ivoire adopts Bill on Electronic Transactions
The Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs of the National Assembly of the Côte d’Ivoire has adopted the new Bill on Electronic Transactions. Read MoreKenyan postal sector to be modernised
The Kenyan Government has challenged the country’s postal sector to use ICTs to meet new customer demands. Read MoreBritish PM praises AfDB for African infrastructure development
British Prime Minister David Cameron has praised the African Development Bank (AfDB) and President Donald Kaberuka for pioneering initiatives to scale the continent’s infrastructure development. Read MoreNCS roots for IT Ministry
Nigerian IT stakeholders say the country needs a dedicated IT Ministry to support the development of the IT industry. Read More20th EACO congress set for Kenya
The East African Communications Organisations (EACO) Congress and Exhibition is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, this month. Read MoreMinistry seeks young innovators
The Botswana Ministry of Transport and Communication has launched a competition that targets young innovators in the country. Read MoreIBM presents smart traffic plan to Lagos state
A team of IBM experts has presented recommendations to Nigeria's Lagos State Government to ensure that traffic flows more efficiently in the city of Lagos. Read MoreBurkina Faso looks to modernised borders
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has met officials in Burkina Faso for talks on modernised border controls. Read MoreUp to 28,000 jobs from new Maadi Technology Park
Egyptian authorities have inaugurated the next phase of the new technology park at Maadi, which is expected to create up to 28,000 direct and indirect jobs on completion. Read MoreRELATED STORIES
FEATURED STORY
Airtime transfer big business in Ivory CoastAirtime transferred direct to mobile is proving popular among consumers and is generating jobs in Ivory Coast.
BEST READ NEWS
IN DEPTH
Africa must think beyond blue collar jobsPan-African job creation initiatives need to look beyond basic job creation, to high level ICT skills development, to develop the economies, says Greg Vercellotti, executive director at Dariel Solutions.