SADC Countries urged to seize opportunity of Mauritius Public Key Infrastructure

Mauritius has invested massively to develop and implement a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to ensure that e-Commerce is carried out in a safe, secure and reliable environment; the country is ready and willing to share its PKI with SADC countries to promote e-Commerce and hence intra SADC trade.

The above statement was made by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum, this morning at the opening of the SADC ICT Ministers Meeting 2012, held at La Plantation Resort, Balaclava. According to the Minister, in view of the heavy investment involved, it may not make economic sense for the PKI infrastructure to be replicated in other Member states. He called on the SADC Secretariat to examine the possibility of setting up a mechanism that would allow the Mauritian PKI to act as a catalyst for the development and promotion of e-Commerce in the sub-region.

Commenting on the increasing availability of broadband connectivity and the decreasing telecommunication costs in Africa, Mr. Pillay Chedumbrum invited his counterparts to work towards the setting up of a strong ICT/BPO industry in individual African countries to tap into the vast global ICT/BPO market estimated to generate business valued at some USD 200 billion. ‘To make the most of the opportunities being offered to us and with a view to generating more wealth and employment for the benefit of our population, we should endeavour to create a synergy by leveraging on respective strengths and comparative advantages’, he added.

Citing the examples of ICT/BPO companies in Mauritius that have expressed their interest to invest in African countries, the Minister urged SADC Member States to actively search for incentives and provide infrastructure to enable the private sector to engage in the cooperative efforts in the region. He pointed out that SADC cooperation should not be confined to Government level and said that the SADC Secretariat should create a conducive environment for these exchanges and investment opportunities to materialize.

The theme chosen for the SADC ICT Ministerial Meeting 2012 is Moving SADC towards a Broadband Ecosystem. Discussions focused on the implementation of the SADC Road Map on Digital Broadcasting Migration 2013; the SADC Draft Model Laws on Cyber Security, Electronic-Transactions/ Electronic-Commerce, Data Protection and Cyber Crime; the SADC e-Commerce Readiness Strategy; the SADC Home and Away Roaming; the implementation of the WRC-12 and SADC Frequency Band Plan; and the adoption of the Road Map and Strategy for the implementation of the ICT Chapter of the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan.