ITU Telecom World 2009 In Review 2009 Geneva 5-9 October Solutions for developing countries Mozambique’s Minister of Science and Technology Venâncio Massingue noted how his country is exposed to the dangerous effects of climate change. He called for cooperation to establish early warning systems for the region to pre-pare for natural disasters. He said this could be achieved, for example, with the help of industry through the launch of low-Earth orbit satellites. Mr Mass-ingue also welcomed the news about the possibilities of solar energy — but these are not yet evident in Mozambique. “When I look around in my country, I cannot find these solar energy solutions. The use of solar could really change our hospitals, clinics and schools,” the minister said. Meanwhile, though, ICT is expanding in Mozambique. Mr Massingue spoke of a computer assembly plant launched recently as part of a joint venture between Sahara Computers of India and Mozambique Information and Communication Technology (MICTI), a semi-governmental organization. Ghana’s Minister of Communications Haruna Iddrisu called for a commitment to use equipment with low energy consumption, while emphasizing that “we must not lose sight of the electromagnetic effects of ICT on human beings; for example mobile phones”. Mr Iddrisu also called for a greater focus on how operators and governments could cooperate in using ICT to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. He stressed the need for solutions in e-health (notably in the areas of maternal health and child mortality) and e-education. Mr Iddrisu then cited Ghana’s Investment Fund for Telecommu-nications as an example of best practice. He said the fund supports provision of telecommunication facilities to underserved and unserved areas. Licensed operators contribute 1 per cent of their net revenues to the fund. Fiji’s Minister of Public Enterprises, Tourism and Communications Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum stressed that the issue of economies of scale had to be addressed if Pacific island States are to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. He noted that the companies represented at the round-table meeting operate in mass-market conditions. However, “the population of Pacific island countries averages between 200 000 and 300 000 people per nation. So it is 26 VVIPS and Ministerial Insight