Communications Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri at the meeting of ICT Ministers of East
and Southern African countries on the NEPAD-led Terrestrial and Sub-marine
Broadband Networks
5 June 2006
Programme Director
Your Excellency, Chair of the Meeting
Honourable Ministers and Colleagues of Eastern and Southern African
countries
Representatives from the African Union (AU) Commission
Dr Henry Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairperson, NEPAD e-Africa Commission
Members of the Diplomatic Community,
Representatives of Regional Economic Communities, (East Africa Community and
Southern African Development Community)
NEPAD Broadband Infrastructure Project partners
Ladies and gentlemen
I am happy to welcome you to this important meeting of Ministers responsible
for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Eastern and
Southern African countries. On behalf of the South African Government, I thank
you for making time from your busy schedules to come to this New Partnership
for Africaâs Development (NEPAD) meeting, which is the first meeting of its
kind under the NEPAD ICT programme, the e-Africa Commission.
The NEPAD Broadband Infrastructure Project, including the East African
Submarine Cable System (EASSy), was identified as one of the NEPAD ICT flagship
projects by the Summit of the NEPAD Heads of States and Governments
Implementation Committee held in Algiers on 23 November 2004.
This meeting comes two weeks after I presented my Budget Vote Speech in the
South African Parliament, and I once again reaffirmed South Africaâs commitment
to support the development of the NEPAD EASSy Cable initiative that will build
a broadband network aimed at rendering ICT services more affordable.
As Ministers from the East and Southern region, we are gathered here today
to consider the recommendations of the meetings of officials regarding the
establishment of the policy, legal and regulatory framework in which the NEPAD
Broadband ICT network, including EASSy, is to be developed, owned and
operated.
Without in any way pre-empting the recommendations of the report, Iâm happy
to confirm that this project embodies NEPAD principles and objectives.
As African countries, we are all focused on the objectives to eradicate
poverty, to place our countries on a path for sustainable growth and
development, to ensure the beneficial integration of Africa and accelerate the
empowerment of those who are vulnerable, such as women, the youth, people with
disabilities and children. It is for this reason that the NEPAD principles and
objectives have guided the policy formulation process for the development of
the NEPAD Broadband ICT Infrastructure project.
Our officials have recommended a set of five policy principles which will
determine the framework for and facilitate the rapid implementation of the
Broadband ICT Network Infrastructure, including the EASSy cable. As Ministers
we need to ensure equal opportunity for participation by all eligible entities
from all countries in the region.
We must commit ourselves to ensuring successful implementation of the NEPAD
Broadband ICT Infrastructure project, within the context of NEPAD values, of
African definition of challenges and providing African solutions to these
challenges, through African solidarity and partnership and in promotion of
African self-sufficiency. It is imperative that ownership of this project
reflects the collaboration between our African countries. Our Heads of State
demand this of us and our peoples expect it.
With that very brief review, I once again, welcome you all. It is the hope
of all of us that this meeting will be successful and that we will see the
speedy implementation of this very essential project for Africa, for our
development and for our prosperity.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Communications
5 June 2006
