Minister Cwele and Cuba Ambassador HE Rodolfo Benitez Verson sign an Agreement on Cooperation in Information and Communications Technology
The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr Siyabonga Cwele and the Ambassador of Cuba, His Excellency Rodolfo Eliseo Benitez Verson today signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The agreement between the two nations strengthens relations which go back many years. The signing took place on the 24th anniversary of the formalisation of the diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The agreement covers areas of cooperation which include;
- Exchange of technical skills and human resources development.
- Capacity building for SMME
- Sharing experiences in satellite and other communication networks
- Management of limited resources such as radio frequency spectrum management
- Sharing experiences in the digitisation of society
- Postal services and technology
- Consultation and cooperation within the framework of international organisations
- Any other area that may be mutually agreed by the Parties.
“We are happy to be signing this agreement which strengthens and deepens our relations in the area of ICT. The ICT sector is undergoing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our citizens and businesses must be at the centre of the beneficiaries of this revolution,” said Minister Cwele.
He said developing nations need to ensure that cybersecurity is part of this development to protect their citizens.
“We need to collaborate to establish a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to set standards for this revolution and testing,” he said.
Ambassador Benitez Verson said the agreement was a demonstration of the nations’ common efforts at international level to bridge the digital divide and promote broad, just and equal access to and development of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for all.
“We are convinced that cyberspace and Internet access should be considered strategic resources and common good of all humanity,” he said.
He said Cuba and South Africa set an example of true South-South cooperation.
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