The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Microsoft have signed an MoU covering COMESA’s 19 member states
In line with the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative’s three core focus areas, and to be implemented through the COMESA Business Council (CBC), the MoU sets out how the two organisations will collaborate in the areas of access to technology, development of relevant skills and the fostering of innovation among COMESA’s member countries.
The MoU will promote access to technology to COMESA member states based on a trusted cloud infrastructure that focuses on the secure deployment of modern IT operations. The collaboration is also expected to accelerate and promote the adoption of innovative high-speed low-cost connectivity initiatives, including through new policy approaches to spectrum management such as dynamic spectrum access. It will also encourage the use of cloud technologies through the adoption of important enabling policies in the areas of cyber-security, data privacy and data protection.
Sindiso Ngwenya, secretary general of COMESA, said, “Business technology has revolutionised the way countries and firms conduct business. We are in an age where the planning processes of organisations is through instruments and solutions that promote quality management, and respond to age-old constraints of time limitations and high costs of operations.”
The collaboration will also focus on fostering innovation across the COMESA region by promoting the value and protection of intellectual property (IP). It will also encourage the development of e-government solutions that will facilitate, simplify and stimulate investment in and trade across the COMESA region to save on time and the cost of complying with business governance and regulations.
Antony Cook, associate general counsel for legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft, Middle East and Africa, said, “Through this collaboration, we will bring policy makers and businesses together and empower them to take advantage of the cloud-first, mobile-first world. With the right policies and regulations in place, people will be encouraged to use cloud technology, develop their own IP and ultimately participate in trade and e-commerce across borders.”
