The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US agency that helps
businesses to invest abroad, has launched a $400-million facility to be invested in the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sectors in 152 countries.
At a press conference held at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), Dr Peter Watson, the president of OPIC, said that the facility will improve delivery of services in crucial sectors of government such as health and agriculture.
‘The facility will be used to support US investments in the telecommunication and ICT sectors and assist countries in overcoming the digital divide. Dependable infrastructure represents a cornerstone for sustainable development in emerging markets,” said Watson.
At the same time, David Gross, the US ambassador to WSIS, confirmed that his government was not interested in backing the much-touted Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) ‘since it has no concrete plan on how the funds are going to be distributed”.
‘We want to invest in a government that is democratic and progressive. The DSF has not spelt out a plan on how the money is going to be channelled and who the real eneficiaries are,” said Gross.
The DSF was championed by Senegalese president Adoulaye Wade, who is the chair of the ICT committee in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
Gross revealed that his government was working closely with the Senegalese government on ICT issues. Indeed, Senegal is a major beneficiary of financial assistance under the US government’s Digital Freedom Fund.
The Digital Freedom Fund is an initiative of US President George Bush aimed at helping African nations to leap-frog into the information age. Gross underscored the fact that beneficiaries of this fund must demonstrate good governance.
In this regard, Gross interpreted president Wade’s actions in NEPAD as a clear invitation to other African heads of state to emulate him in strengthening relations with the US. He emphasised that the US is a major supporter of economic activities globally and will continue working with various governments.
The new commitment is expected to catalyse ICT use and bridge the digital divide in less developed countries. However, Watson said that the money is from the private sector and all beneficiaries must demonstrate that the money is beneficial to the public.
This, he said, will foster economic development and strengthen the reputation built by OPIC in the last 32 years. The new fund means that OPIC’s financial assistance now totals five billion US dollars in 197 projects world-wide.
Gross said he welcomed the establishment of a new taskforce to advise the United Nations Secretary-General on matters of Internet governance, adding that WSIS is a political summit and cannot be expected to resolve all technical issues.
He said that the position of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was vital and is not going to be affected by the new development. ICANN is a California-based non-profit organisation that controls Top Level Domains (TLD). — Hana