ensuring that the sector assumes its role as a powerful driver of public policy
designed to reduce poverty and the effects of social and economic inequality.
He emphasized that the development of infrastructure is key to promoting eCommerce and Intra and inter Regional Trade. He mentioned that Mauritius
was prepared to share these experiences with SADC Member States. He called
upon the SADC Secretariat to continue to facilitate a conducive environment
that would allow exchanges among and between Member States. He
cautioned that the proposed SADC Cooperation should not be confined to just
being a dream but SADC should provide incentives to operators in order to
deploy adequate infrastructure.
The vote of thanks was provided by the Honourable Moses Kalongashawa,
Minister of Information, Malawi and Vice-Chair of SADC, who thanked the
Government of Mauritius for Hosting the Meeting and for the warm hospitality
that has been accorded to the Honourable Ministers and delegates to the
Meeting.
The Ministers Meeting which was preceded by the Meeting of Senior Officials
held on 6 and 7 November, was chaired by the Honourable Louis Pelembe,
Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of Mozambique. The
Meeting was attended by senior officials from all SADC Member States, and
honourable Ministers from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, and Namibia and Deputy Ministers from Angola and
Mozambique. The meeting was also attended by the heads of SADC
implementing Agencies in the Communications and ICT Sector, namely; SATA,
SAPOA, CRASA and the Secretary General of ATU was in attendance as well as
representatives from Uniform SA/dot Africa, ITU, PAPU, NEPAD and UNECA.
The meeting deliberated over a number of issues and made a number of
decisions including the following: Consideration of the Regional Alliance Task
Team (RATT) Report to the Ministers. The meeting approved that the Region
should move towards the adoption of the ‘Roam like a Local and urged the
SADC ICT Regulators to engage Operators and ensure that all measures are put
in place to effectively implement the recommendation on Roam Like a Local’
by April 2014. In extending the term and mandate of the RATT, the Ministers
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