23 August 2007
President Thabo Mbeki will this weekend meet his International Advisory
Council on Information Society and Development (PIAC on ISAD) to discuss
strategies to increase e-skills in the country.
The development of e-skills has been highlighted as key to move the country
into an inclusive information society. At last year's meeting, the council had
emphasised that a balance needed to be sought between developing skills to
directly support ICT activities on the one hand, (for example software
programming) and developing skills for other sectors of the economy impacted on
by information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the other hand.
The Council which is meeting for the 7th time this year, meets once a year
to advise the President on the developing trends in the ICT sector and possible
opportunities that the country can take advantage of in pursuit of economic
development and poverty eradication.
The promotion of globally competitive ICTs in South Africa is one way in
which Government hopes to speed up skills development in the country and thus
the pace of growth and development.
Journalists are invited to attend a media conference at the end of the
meeting as follows:
Date: 26 August 2007
Time: 13h00
Venue: Mondazur Resort Estate Hotel, San Lameer, (KwaZulu-Natal)
To confirm attendance, please contact:
Richard Mantu
Cell: 072 488 1520
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 083 228 5041
For media enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: 082 300 3447
Issued by: The Presidency
23 August 2007
