The Minister of Communications, Roy Padayachie, the Department of Communications and ICT industry leaders have today, 31 July 2011, signed an ICT Industry Competitiveness and Job Creation Compact, that commits to 100% broadband penetration by 2020 and the creation of one million additional jobs throughout the ICT industry.
The Compact was finalised after a two-day workshop during which the participants made personal commitments to work together to achieve the objectives and targets for the good of the country as a whole.
The Compact recognises the significant role ICT can play to accelerate economic growth, meaningfully impact job creation and transform South Africa into one of the most competitive developing countries through a strong partnership between government (lead by the Department of Communications) and the private sector.
Purpose
As a collaborative partnership of all role players and a key South African stakeholder, the ICT industry has adopted the following purpose statement to define its overall ethos and role going forward: “An innovative and globally competitive ICT industry to accelerate the development and prosperity of all South Africans.”
2020 Collective Target
- Achieved 100% broadband internet coverage with 100% of the population with access to broadband.
- The creation of at least one million additional jobs through the ICT industry.
Addressing Competitiveness and Job Creation
In addressing its role in country competitiveness and job creation, the ICT industry has defined a number of key intervention areas including specific targets.
These areas will form the basis for a collective “2020 ICT Industry Strategy and Action Plan for Competitiveness and Job Creation”.
The strategy needs to ensure implementation and realisation of specific targets over the next 9 years until 2020.
- Human capital development to ensure the ICT skills requirements of the economy and enable South Africans to effectively participate in the digital and knowledge economy.
- Investment capital (both public and private) to fund the large scale infrastructure required to achieve the targeted access and penetration levels, the funding and promotion of small, medium and micro enterprises and the funding of innovation.
- Manufacturing capacity needs to be enhanced to significantly increase local content and leveraging global best practice to stimulate manufacturing investment.
- Local digital content needs to be increased considering the opportunity for application development, the multi-media sector, knowledge creation and the digitisation of government.
- Capacitate a focused programme to drive the implementation of this compact.
“By signing the compact, all participants have committed themselves personally and as organisations to working together to achieve the objectives and targets of the compact in the collective interest of a better South Africa,” the DoC said in a press statement.
“They will leverage the country’s strengths and opportunities and will overcome whatever challenges and obstacles may exist to achieve their purpose.”
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Quelle/Source: MyBroadband, 31.07.2011
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