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Uganda has urged India and other countries to invest in the fast-growing communications sector in Uganda. Addressing delegates at the ongoing World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2010, Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, said the investment climate in Uganda was attractive and favourable.
Addressing delegates at the opening of WTDC-2010 in Hyderabad, India on May 24, Mr Madhvani expressed appreciation to the Government of India’s $50million support to the Pan-Africa E-Treaty network through former President Abdul Kallam. He said Uganda’s economy was growing fast and that the country’s political landscape favourable for investment. “I need to reiterate that Idi Amin Dada is long dead. Uganda in the last 20 years has grown from minus growth to an average of 6.7% in the last 10 years. Inflation, which was at 250% in 1990, has been reduced to 8%.”
Mr Madhvani urged companies from India and elsewhere to emulate those who have so far invested in Uganda. “Two of the giant telecommunication companies in India - Bharti Airtel and Essar –have just concluded purchase of Zain Uganda and Warid Telecom respectively in Uganda and Africa under the visionary leadership of Messrs Sunil Mittal and Sushil Ruia respectively,” he said.
Mr Madhvani, who led the Ugandan delegation to the conference, said it was critical to build on these partnerships and successes so as to implement a range of policies which promote an integrated ICT infrastructure for Uganda. He said the Uganda government was committed to pursuing public-private initiatives to make the country the ICT hub in the East African region and beyond.
Mr Madhvani also passed a message of condolence from President Yoweri Museveni, the Government and people of Uganda to the people of India over the tragic airplane accident that claimed over more than 100 people on May 21, 2010.
A third generation Ugandan of Asian descent, Madhvani and said he was proud to be Uganda’s envoy to India and to head the delegation to the conference. The Ugandan delegation includes officials from the Ministry of ICT and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
The 12-day event that is being held in Hyderabad, India was opened by the Minister for Communications and Information Technology of India, Hon. Siri Raja. Dr Hamaduon Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is among the 1,250 delegates from over 142 countries, attending the event. The delegates include ministers responsible for ICT, envoys and diplomats, regulators and industry players in the communications industry.
Mr Madhvani thanked India for accepting to host the conference, and told the ITU Secretary General and all the delegates present that Uganda would be most grateful to be the first country in Africa to host such a conference. He urged the delegates to consider issues pertinent to the developing world, including Uganda, such as emergency telecommunications for Africa region; assistance to countries in special need, and; support for the African ICT sector in the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
The Africa Region Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for WTDC-2010 was held in Kampala at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo in July 2009. During the three-day meeting, delegates discussed pertinent issues related to the information and communication technology (ICT) need of African countries ahead of the WTDC-10 Conference.
It was agreed that the programmes would be implemented through the creation of tools, the development of training materials, and information dissemination (workshops and seminars), as well as through direct assistance. Among others, participants discussed the impact of the global financial crisis on ICT development in Africa, and how ICT could leverage the growth and development of Africa.
Uganda has urged India and other countries to invest in the fast-growing communications sector in Uganda. Addressing delegates at the ongoing World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2010, Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Nimisha Madhvani, said the investment climate in Uganda was attractive and favourable.
Addressing delegates at the opening of WTDC-2010 in Hyderabad, India on May 24, Mr Madhvani expressed appreciation to the Government of India’s $50million support to the Pan-Africa E-Treaty network through former President Abdul Kallam. He said Uganda’s economy was growing fast and that the country’s political landscape favourable for investment. “I need to reiterate that Idi Amin Dada is long dead. Uganda in the last 20 years has grown from minus growth to an average of 6.7% in the last 10 years. Inflation, which was at 250% in 1990, has been reduced to 8%.”
Mr Madhvani urged companies from India and elsewhere to emulate those who have so far invested in Uganda. “Two of the giant telecommunication companies in India - Bharti Airtel and Essar –have just concluded purchase of Zain Uganda and Warid Telecom respectively in Uganda and Africa under the visionary leadership of Messrs Sunil Mittal and Sushil Ruia respectively,” he said.
Mr Madhvani, who led the Ugandan delegation to the conference, said it was critical to build on these partnerships and successes so as to implement a range of policies which promote an integrated ICT infrastructure for Uganda. He said the Uganda government was committed to pursuing public-private initiatives to make the country the ICT hub in the East African region and beyond.
Mr Madhvani also passed a message of condolence from President Yoweri Museveni, the Government and people of Uganda to the people of India over the tragic airplane accident that claimed over more than 100 people on May 21, 2010.
A third generation Ugandan of Asian descent, Madhvani and said he was proud to be Uganda’s envoy to India and to head the delegation to the conference. The Ugandan delegation includes officials from the Ministry of ICT and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
The 12-day event that is being held in Hyderabad, India was opened by the Minister for Communications and Information Technology of India, Hon. Siri Raja. Dr Hamaduon Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is among the 1,250 delegates from over 142 countries, attending the event. The delegates include ministers responsible for ICT, envoys and diplomats, regulators and industry players in the communications industry.
Mr Madhvani thanked India for accepting to host the conference, and told the ITU Secretary General and all the delegates present that Uganda would be most grateful to be the first country in Africa to host such a conference. He urged the delegates to consider issues pertinent to the developing world, including Uganda, such as emergency telecommunications for Africa region; assistance to countries in special need, and; support for the African ICT sector in the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
The Africa Region Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for WTDC-2010 was held in Kampala at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo in July 2009. During the three-day meeting, delegates discussed pertinent issues related to the information and communication technology (ICT) need of African countries ahead of the WTDC-10 Conference.
It was agreed that the programmes would be implemented through the creation of tools, the development of training materials, and information dissemination (workshops and seminars), as well as through direct assistance. Among others, participants discussed the impact of the global financial crisis on ICT development in Africa, and how ICT could leverage the growth and development of Africa.
