South Africa and the United Kingdom will jointly lead a Commonwealth initiative to boost digital connectivity amongst member countries, it was announced today at Africa Tech Week.
South Africa and the United Kingdom will jointly lead a Commonwealth initiative to boost digital connectivity amongst member countries, it was announced today at Africa Tech Week.
Agreed at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda will increase intra-Commonwealth trade from $560 million to US$2 trillion dollars by 2030.
The Connectivity Agenda brings together trade and sectoral policymakers, regulators and implementers to explore ways to increase trade and expand investment across the Commonwealth through peer-to-peer learning, capacity building and the promotion of best practices.
South Africa and the UK have agreed to lead the cluster on digital connectivity, drawing together countries to support inclusive growth and sustainable development in the Commonwealth through digital trade and digitalisation.
Commonwealth Secretary–General, Patricia Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda is a splendid example of how, by working together, our 53 member countries are able to take practical action towards overcoming impediments to inclusive trade and sustainable prosperity in which all can share.
“It carries forward in fresh ways our fine Commonwealth record of cooperation to promote development by sharing knowledge and creating employment.
“We will see this in action at the inaugural meeting of the Digital Connectivity Cluster, with Commonwealth members from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific assembling and working together to ensure that all our communities benefit from the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
The inaugural joint meeting of the Digital Connectivity Cluster takes place 19-20 March in Durban, South Africa.
