EA private sector in joint push for regional projects

Operators in the information and telecommunication technology sector from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan want to assume an active role in the ongoing Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) initiative. As proof of their commitment and eagerness to play a part in the initiative, they launched the Northern Corridor Technology Alliance to help develop cohesiveness in the implementation of the initiative. The alliance was launched in Kigali, yesterday, at the beginning of a two-day workshop to formulate strategies to scale up their role in NCIP. Having been involved in the implementation of various national projects in their respective countries, the umbrella body has called on the four states to consider them as partners in the projects. Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Robert Ford, the vice-president of the ICT chamber at the Private Sector Federation, said their inclusion would help fast-track the pace of implementation of the ongoing and envisaged projects. participants folloe proceedings during the meeting. He said the private sector has necessary capacity financially and skill wise to take the lead on certain integration projects and also work as an enabler in projects outside their domain. He added that the alliance was in the process to engage with financial institutions and banks of the region on modalities to fund the projects. Among the mechanisms they plan to present at the next heads of state summit in September are new modalities of doing business with the governments to get past procurement challenges. “We would like the heads of state to scrap the tendering processes for the projects as they could easily end up in the hands of foreign firms. We will put in place mechanisms to guarantee that the end products are of the highest standards. Where need be we will involve foreign expertise but only on a need basis,” Ford said. Benefiting regional players Ford, who is also an investor in Electronic Governance Systems, said the close partnership will see more money remain in the region as opposed to previously when foreign firms took almost all the funds. Angela Ng’ang’a, the head of the Kenyan delegation, said the alliance was created against the backdrop of businesses’ interactions with the heads of state upon which they realised that there were numerous similarities in ideas. Participants pose for a group photo after the opening session. (All photos by Timothy Kisambira) Among the areas where they can work closely with governments include development of e-Government and e-Commerce systems, business intelligence services to improve outcomes such as food security, cyber security capacity building, risk assessment and information sharing, broadband access and policy interventions, they said. Benjamin Gasamagera, the chairperson of the Private Sector Federation, said their alliance was in the best interest of the region and all parties involved. Welcoming the development, the NCIP national coordinator, Monique Mukaruliza, said the private sector participation was assurance to the heads of state and the citizens of the region that the initiative was on course. She said heads of state were scheduled to interact with members of the private sector to deliberate on ways they work more closely. Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the minister for youth and ICT, said the alliance was also making strides toward the region’s goals of having a private sector led economy and delivering value to stakeholders. He said the greatest value of their involvement is the market opportunity they will have created at the end of the integration process. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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EA private sector in joint push for regional projects