MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH IT EXPERTS IN MALTA

A Group of Experts on Information Technology from the Commonwealth is meeting in Malta to discuss the promotion of the wider use of technology within the Commonwealth. This meeting of experts follows a proposal by Malta at the Commonwealth High Level Review Group (CHLG) meeting in New York in September that the Commonwealth should take positive action to tackle the problem of the Digital Divide among its members. The proposal was unanimously endorsed.

The Group will advise on the objectives and activities of a proposed Commonwealth-sponsored mechanism to promote wider use of information technology in the Commonwealth, noting the importance of involving the private sector as well as intergovernmental institutions active in this area.

Besides Malta, the Heads of Government of Australia, India, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe are expected to nominate experts for this meeting. Malta is being represented by Mr. Henry Alamango, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development.