Policy Statement
by
The Hon. Musalia Mudavadi
Minister of Transport and Communications 
Republic of Kenya

Tuesday,19 March 2002

Delivered by Mr. Sammy Kyungu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications

Mr. Chairman,
Your Excellences, The Ministers
Secretary General of the ITU, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi
Director of BDT, Mr. Hamadoun Touré
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am delighted to take the floor to address this distinguished assembly of delegates gathered here to review and chart out the future direction and activities of the ITU-D Sector.

On behalf of the Kenyan delegation, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Government and the people of Turkey for the warm welcome accorded to us since our arrival in this beautiful city of Istanbul. May I also congratulate you Mr. Chairman on your election to this important post and thank the Secretary General of ITU and the Director BDT for the successful organization of this conference. I would like to assure you that my Government has full confidence in the ITU for the various initiatives it has been undertaking for the benefit of its members.

Mr. Chairman,

Today, the ITU stands to play a more critical role in the development of the info-communication globally. This particularly true in view of the fast changing technologies in the sector and their uneven deployment in various parts of the world at different levels of development.

Mr. Chairman,

It is saddening to note that in spite of the availability of a vast array of technological solutions in the market place, Africa is yet to realize its main goals and challenges in telecommunications. The low level of telecommunication penetration across the continent bears this fact out. As a result, our people are deprived of a means of information flow in a world where information and its timely exchange is becoming the single most important tool for socio-economic development.

Perhaps one may ask what is it that we in the developing world have failed to do or are doing that is inhibiting a robust growth in the telecommunications sector? I expect that this has provided the ITU, and in particular the BDT, food for thought and we can only hope that a workable solution will be reached to alleviate this precarious situation.

At the same time, we should be grateful to see these solutions assist ITU to focus on some of the issues that are very noble to us all and integrate them as part of ITU-D for implementation.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,

We in the developing countries today face a multiplicity of challenges. Most critical is the need to enhance the quality of life and increase productivity in the various sectors of our economy. As policy makers, we do recognize that the availability of a well developed telecommunications infrastructure capable of providing quality, reliable and affordable service is a key in meeting these challenges.

Our other challenge in the developing world has to do with factors to consider while deciding on the best options for attracting investments in the telecommunications sector. This is because development and the expansion of telecommunication services require massive capital investment way beyond the capacities of most developing countries. This then brings about the paradox: that those in dire need for communication facilities to assist them resuscitate their declining economies can least afford the remedy. The net result is to condemn these countries’ economies into even more desperate levels.

Given this background, we do appreciate the various initiatives being undertaken by ITU in close collaboration with other partners in the area of training and capacity building including the implementation of Centers of Excellence.

On our part, our government has taken bold and decisive steps towards ensuring that the sector is liberalized to attract private and foreign investments in this important area. However, even with the opening up of the wide array of investment opportunities which investors can take full advantage of, the majority of the rural and remote areas of our country remain unattractive to private investment a concern to most policy makers in the developing countries in light of the widening digital divide.

Having said this, there is need therefore, to re-look at our development strategies and approaches. The ITU may need to address these challenges and factor them in their wide development initiatives, in coordination with other partners.

As for governments, perhaps we may require to marshal more resources and also take deliberate initiatives to ensure that this sector becomes the focal point of our development strategy.

Mr. Chairman,

In Africa, apart from investment capital, the other key driver for development of telecommunications in the continent is skilled manpower. In this regard I wish to thank the ITU and particularly Mr. Hamadoun Toure for successfully launching the AFRALTI Centre of Excellence in Nairobi last month. I believe the two centers in Africa will provide opportunities for quality manpower development needed to facilitate growth in the sector.

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, I wish to reiterate how delighted we are to be part of this august conference and look forward to fruitful deliberations.

I thank you.