Some 600 delegates, among them business and community leaders, are expected to attend an information and communication technology (ICT) sector summit in Midrand next week.
The summit will be held under the auspices of Nedlac, the National Economic Development and Labour Council, and is part of a series of such discussions in sectors identified as having the potential to either create or lose a large number of jobs.
Representatives from government, business, the broader community and labour settled the agenda for the meeting and agreed on key issues, through what they term a "structured process of intense debate and negotiations". These include recognising the growth potential of the sector, the catalytic role technology can play in social and economic development and identifying access to affordable ICT services as a basic right.
The summit is to be opened by deputy president Jacob Zuma at Gallagher Estate on Monday and will continue on Tuesday.
Questions to be addressed include the impact that HIV/Aids will have on the technology industry, means of increasing investment and research and development spending in ICT, and improving ICT services in both the formal sector and under-serviced areas.
Also to come under discussion is the role ICT has to play in the New Economic Plan for African Development (Nepad).
The parties have agreed to set up a post-summit process to ensure that the goals of the summit are implemented.
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