By Miranda La Rose From newsday T&T

INFORMATION communication technology (ICT) cluster agencies in Caricom member states have begun discussions on developing an integrated work plan among themselves towards the development of a “Single ICT Space” in the region. The plan would include financial projections and sources of funding for the undertaking.

According to the Caricom Secretariat, the ICT cluster agencies held a meeting via video conferencing that was anchored at the secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

Represented were the Caricom Secretariat, Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, Caribbean Centre for Development Administration and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

The meeting followed the approval for the Caricom Single ICT Roadmap given by Caricom Heads of Government at their inter-sessional meeting held in February in Georgetown.

The Single ICT Space is conceptualised as the digital layer of the Caricom Single Market and Economy, the region’s flagship programme.

It encompasses the management of regional information, human resources, legislation and infrastructure in the sector to elicit maximum benefit for the region’s population.

The Single ICT Space and the region’s Digital Agenda 2025 will be constructed on the foundation of the Regional Digital Development Strategy which was approved in 2013, and will also have inputs from the Commission on the Economy and the Post-2015 Agenda, the secretariat said.

The undertaking is cross-sectoral and highly complex. The challenges include identifying the areas of strategic value, evaluating lessons learned, and timely and appropriate decisions.

During their inter- sessional meeting, Caricom Chairman and Guyana’s President, David Granger said, the Single ICT Space would become one of the driving forces for social and economic development of the community. He said it would enhance the environment for investment and production, and provide an opportunity for innovation to flourish.

It would also support a sustainable increase in growth and jobs, enhance efficiency and increase access to public services, he said.

The Single ICT Space will be on the agenda for discussion at next month’s Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development which will be held in Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom Secretariat said.

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IMAGE: World Bank