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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth launches initiative to bridge the Digital Divide

1 August 2006

‘Commonwealth Connects’ - a new programme to bridge the digital divide - will be unveiled by Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon on Thursday, August 3, at Marlborough House, London, UK.

This programme aims to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) to benefit member countries that need them most.

Commenting ahead of the launch of the programme and its website, http://www.commonwealthconnects.net/, Mr McKinnon said: “This programme will provide concrete assistance for the development of ICTs in least developed countries of the Commonwealth. It will enable them to enter the information age fully equipped to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

The Secretary-General said that Commonwealth Heads of Government, meeting in Malta in 2005, recognised that ICTs act as catalysts in creating new economic synergies. They offer opportunities to overcome the constraints of remoteness, small size and other factors which have acted as obstacles to development.

Maltese Foreign Minister Dr Michael Frendo, who heads the Commonwealth Connects steering committee, will speak at the launch.

The first project of the programme, Rebuilding After The Tsunami: Using ICTs for Change, will create a web-based platform to provide greater access to vital information and encourage ongoing exchanges between numerous civil society organisations, governments and citizens. It will complement existing reconstruction efforts in India, Sri Lanka and other countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Other Commonwealth Connects projects will involve the provision of radio-based business training for women in Cameroon to help them engage professionally in micro enterprise; and refurbished computers donated by Caribbean governments and citizens for distribution in schools in other Commonwealth countries.

Note to Editors

The launch will take place at 3 pm on Thursday, 3 August 2006 and is open to the media. For enquiries please contact Julius Mucunguzi on +44 (0) 20 7747 6382.

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int