Ethiopia to host ICT Africa in 2008

The forthcoming event was earlier scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya in November 2007 but was later changed due to the political euphoria ahead of the December elections. Ethiopia was seen as the appropriate venue for the high-level meet.

The 2008 event will bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, University professors, Internet Service Providers, policy makers, consultants and graduate students. Others include venture capitalists, telecommunications operators, vendors and employers.

ICT Africa is a series of conferences held annually in different African countries to discuss major ICT developments for Africa. The last ICT Africa event was held in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2006.

The event will be held under the auspices of the NEPAD Council in collaboration with Pro-Invest of the European Union Institution. The summit expected to cover a wide range of topics including ICT policy, investment, regional projects, research and development.

Delegates will also look at lessons learned from other regions of the world as well as acknowledge many of the industry's top minds.

Speaking to HANA, Clarissa Dhliwayo, one of the events planner from NEPAD Council based in Washington DC confirmed the Ethiopia ICT event saying that delegates will be drawn from different parts of Africa and abroad to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward in a bid to fast track ICT developments in Africa.

"The event will bring people working on similar projects to form collaborations and synergies."

A press release posted by ICT Africa organisers also says the event will be two-fold in that delegates will have the option of attending both ICT Africa and NOVATECH sessions.

While ICT Africa focuses on technical presentations/tutorials and discussions on policy and ICT projects, NOVATECH focuses on bringing together European and African companies and investment workshops.

The NEPAD Council hosted an ICT awareness and fundraising event last month in Washington DC which touched on pertinent issues, among them being ICT Africa and Africa Broadband Communities.

The ICT awareness campaign is key to ICT practitioners in Africa and it offers delegates a forum to interact with the whose 'who' in the ICT industry.

According to the NEPAD Council, the event in Ethiopia will offer technical tutorials, demonstrations, exhibitions, news in the making and the opportunity to speak with experts.

The 2008 event will be held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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