GASABO - The National Data Centre (NDC) that will contain all public and private sector data will be ready by December, according to officials charged with putting in place this initiative.

RDB-IT signed a contract with a Swedish ICT) firm, Coromatic, in which the latter will construct the centre at a cost of more than US$5m.

RDB-IT deputy CEO, Nkubito Bakuramutsa noted that completion of the data centre as well as the implementation of a city-wide wireless internet was in line with the country’s plans to move from agricultural based economy to a knowledge based one by the year 2020.

"Data centre implementation is fundamental in completion of the ICT puzzle; it is projected that the country will be a regional leader in ICT usage by the end of 2010 with the implementation of this and other policies already in place,” Bukuramutsa said.

Speaking at the same event SIDA head, Richard Mbobona hailed RITA, the predecessor of RDB-IT, for the progress in using funds received under the Swedish and Rwanda development co-operation agreement since 2007.

"The results achieved under the SIDA funding are impressive and we are confident that despite the challenges, further achievements will be made,” said Mbobona.

So far, SIDA has committed about US$3.5m to finance capacity building and development of the NDC as well as other RDB-IT activities over the past two years.

Mbobona also revealed that following agreements with the government to map out key priority activities for funding, SIDA will be phasing out its co-operation project with RDB-IT.

"We are confident that we have achieved our target in supporting the implementation of RITA key priorities like in development of human capacity and establishment of the data centre.”  Mbobona said.

"Now our priority will lie on to human rights development, governance areas, and support in the achievement of the vision 2020 Umurenge programmes”.

Mbobona added that RDB-IT will continue to receive institutional support from SIDA even as the development organ changes focus to other support areas particularly development of the private sector.

Regarding further funding Bakuramutsa noted that the World Bank and the European commission are among the partners who have already pledged to support RITA future projects.

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