Bridging the Digital Divide
 
In order to have a thriving society and an efficient economy, developing countries must invest in technology. A huge technology gap exists between developing and developed countries, between regions within countries and between different income and social groups. There is an urgent need to bridge this divide.
 
There is a very substantial risk that those without the capacities to access the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), or to use it effectively, will be further marginalised. The global economy and social order are becoming increasingly dependent on ICT to support economic growth and governance activities. This has a knock-on effect on the sustainability of existing markets, institutions and social and economic practices. Although social, economic and technological divides are not new, they are deepening. The CBC uses many methods including research, advocacy, consultancy and introducing practical projects to address this issue. This section highlights some the steps taken which have contributed to reducing the digital divide.
 
CBC has a long history of working on the ICT initiatives, particularly in the ICT 4 Development sector. In 2004, the CBC created a team entirely dedicated to focusing on ICT issues, global services and business enabling through the use of technology. The Technologies team got engaged on five key initiatives:
 
Events and Education
 
The Technology and Global Services fora organised by the CBC aim at bringing together the key players in the market and provide educational research materials to delegates.
Modernising Governments by using technology
 
Technology experts and government ministers met in London to look at ways ICT could be harnessed to strengthen governance. The Forum’s report and recommendations were then presented to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting (CFMM) in 2002 following the endorsement of CBC’s Investment Principles by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Australia in 2001.
 
Engaging ICT stakeholders to discuss LDCs
 
ICT Stakeholders from Commonwealth countries gathered in Mauritius where success stories from different regions were exchanged. The Mauritius government, meanwhile, showcased policies, strategies and initiatives to key players in the ICT sector from across the globe.
 
The special focus of the meet was on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and delegates were challenged to come up with real and deployable solutions to integrate LDCs into the global economy through the use of ICTs.
 
Connecting the Commonwealth
 
Narrowing the gap between those with access to information and communication technology (ICT) and those without by means of collaboration and partnership among governments, the private sector and civil society, was the focus of the Commonwealth Connects 2007 International e-Partnership Summit held at New Delhi in 2007.
 
Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam addressed the gathered ministers, technology experts, businessmen and expressed the need for communication brand-width to be offered free by 53 Common wealth countries, especially those of Africa and Asia. This he believed will result in long-term economic benefits.
 
Focus on Innovation
 
The world is witnessing rapid globalisation with countries like India and China emerging as major innovation and research hubs. Its profound impact on the Western nations is undeniable. CBC along with the London chapter of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Imperial College brought together a group of leading technology, innovation experts and business people under the banner of Global Technology and Innovation Forum, to explore ways to create national and trans-national innovation eco-systems, find out how to commercialise Intellectual Property, create successful spin-offs and attract international capital to start-ups.
 
Research and Consulting
 
The technologies team advises on global outsourcing viability and performs health checks on existing partnerships using a unique system of metrics developed for this purpose.
Enabling e-government and e-democracy.
 
CBC and EzGov Europe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to deliver electronic service delivery solutions for e-government to Commonwealth countries and other government markets worldwide. The CBC's e-government program was part of the ongoing plan to bridge the digital divide aimed at helping countries develop and implement their individual e-government programs at both central and local government level.
 
The agreement was made just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHoGM), held in Malta 2005. With this partnership, CBC incorporated EzGov's e-Government solutions.
 
Through a partnership with the Specialist Crime Directorate at New Scotland Yard, the technologies team examined the effect of economic crime on various global service industries - such as financial services and retail. This group focused on bringing together the public and private sector in a regular forum that delivers tangible results.
 
To tackle the problem, the Specialist Crime Directorate of the Metropolitan Police and CBC created a formal partnership where law-enforcement experts from across the 53-nation Commonwealth region will work on connecting the corporate victims of economic crime with international government policy makers. The Scotland Yard economic crime working group addresses cyber crime, data and identity theft, counterfeiting and intellectual property rights, and money laundering.
 
This partnership marks a significant change in the way the Metropolitan police addresses cyber crime.
 
IT park in Uganda
 
+ Potential for $200 million annual exports of IT and IT related services
+ Job creation for 12,000 employees directly
+ Indirect labour generation to the tune of 20,000
 
The CBC has launched an IT Park project in Uganda which will open up a plethora of opportunities for educated, skilled Ugandans and put Uganda on the map of Africa as a beacon for technology.
The project - located off Entebbe-Kampala road, midway between the city centre and the airport - will provide a comprehensive and secure IT and business services park within a satellite city.
 
Dr Mohan Kaul Director General of the CBC, said there is a pool of highly educated force in the country and it could easily be the Bangalore of Africa. The multi-faceted project will be made up of offshore development centres, back offices, data processing centres, data centres and residences, studios, apartments, hotels etc.
 
While analysing the benefits of the project, CBC project and Finance director Mahesh Ramachandran explained that there is a potential for annual export of IT and IT related services worth $200 million (which is 20 percent of current export of $961 million) The park will create jobs for over 20,000 people.
 
CBC has suggested an IT policy framework to the government which will lead to 100% tax exemption for lease income, companies and staff, 100% duty exemptions and easier access to work permits. CBC will work closely with the Ugandan government in the formation of IT policies, setting up African Regional Association of Software and Services Companies (ARASSC) in Uganda, coordinating with the Ugandan Investment Board to bring FDI and set up Intellectual, data protection and privacy frame work to be used by Ugandan IT Act.
 
Partnership for disaster management
 
Natural calamities have spread mayhem around the world, severely impacting the lives of people and the environment. The recent spate of tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides and forest fires have left behind a legacy of lost and broken lives, economic upheaval and sheer devastation, imposing long-lasting impediments to sustainable development and global efforts for poverty reduction. The poor, especially those living in remote and isolated areas, are the most vulnerable and disaster-prone.
ITU reached agreement with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to utilize satellite communications for improved global response in the face of natural disasters.
ICO Global Communications will provide airtime on their F2 satellite for disaster prevention and effective response in the aftermath of natural disasters through both voice communications and other telecommunication applications, including telemedicine. An hour’s airtime will be provided every day for use through ITU to help countries maintain preparedness, provide early-warning information and elicit quick response. In the event of a disaster, this time will be adjusted according to demand to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
While ITU will manage and coordinate emergency telecommunications, CBC will provide content and manage the entrepreneurial skill development programme.
 
Commonwealth Technologies
 
A subsidiary of CBC, Commonwealth Technologies was set up to promote trade and investment in technology industries in the Commonwealth.
 
The CTL mandate covers technology, and technology related issues, across sectors and across regions, with a primary focus on ICTs (Information and Communications Technologies) and the ITeS (Information Technology Enabled Industries) such as BPO and KPO.
 
The key objectives of CBCT are:
- To facilitate increase of cross-border trade in technology industries across the Commonwealth
- To create Public Private Partnerships between regional and Federal governments of the Commonwealth
- To raise awareness of the role of technology in development of nations
- To provide thought leadership in technology related areas
- To help foster innovation in enterprise and research in technologies