Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers with responsibility for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will this week be preparing recommendations for the Heads of Government for the development of the sector. The Ministers’ recommendations will come out of discussions in Grenada this week at the 48th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development with a focus on. The Prime Minister of Grenada and CARICOM Lead Head of Government for Science and Technology, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell will chair the proceedings on Friday 17 January following discussions by sector officials on 14-15 January.
A presentation focusing on key growth and development objectives as identified by the Community and the related challenges and opportunities in applying ICT as an enabler to meet these objectives will be made at the meeting.
There will also be a presentation on possible elements of a Single CARICOM ICT Space. Such a space could use the resulting economies of scale to the Region's advantage, by developing an open and competitive CARICOM Business Market, stimulating growth in the ICT sector, boosting competitiveness across the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and promoting opportunities for research and innovation.
Also down for discussion is the Draft Implementation Plan (Phase One) and progress to date of the Regional Digital Development Strategy which was approved by the Community Council in June 2011 and finalised in December 2011.
Attendees will also be invited to discuss and identify opportunities for linking similar or related projects as well as discuss next steps with regard to obtaining financial and technical assistance for Regional ICT programmes.
