Africa on the move with a booming ICT industry

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2008 welcomes leading names in the ICT industry from 12-15 May 2008 in Cairo, Egypt.

Organized by ITU, AFRICA 2008 promotes the ICT industry both regionally and internationally. Five to six thousand visitors are expected to attend the event and explore the region's ICT and telecommunication market. The event promises a concentration of government, regulatory and private sector players, together with leading thinkers to negotiate and debate the industry's most innovative technologies and its most significant issues.

AFRICA 2008 boasts an extensive international Exhibition - a key component of ITU Telecom since its inception in 1971. Leading players from the region as well from major international companies come together with a huge display of ICT products and services at the Cairo International Conference and Exhibition Centre. Expect to see stands for Alcatel-Lucent, Alkan CIT, Arabsat, Energya Telecom Solutions, Ericsson, ERTU, Etisalat, Huawei Technologies, KT, Telecom Egypt, ZTE along with a host of others.

Regional pavilions are also popular with China, Egypt, Korea and Nigeria highlighting national strengths and competitive advantages.

ICT in Africa - A Continent on the Move

With a theme that speaks for itself, AFRICA 2008 draws top speakers offering both regional and global insights on Africa's position, its unique market drivers, and the host of factors critical in sustaining its most effective enabling environment. Sessions cover topics such as public-private partnerships, entrepreneurial success stories, capacity building and cybersecurity.

The four thematic days are:

Africa Today: The State of the Art

Dynamic Africa: Demand Drivers and Innovation

Dynamic Africa: Partnering for the Future

Africa in the Vanguard

"The investment climate in Africa is particularly inviting right now," said Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General. "Liberalized markets forge forward and demand continues at a remarkable speed." Referring to the successful Connect Africa Summit, Dr Touré added, "We're certain to see further momentum on the investment commitments generated in the last six months."