COMESA and Microsoft to collaborate on areas of access to technology

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) through its business council and Microsoft took a step towards strengthening their working alliance by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which sets out how they will collaborate in areas of access to technology, development of relevant skills and fostering of innovation in COMESA’s 19 Member States. And enhancing trade in the region.

According to The Herald, COMESA Secretary General Mr Sindiso Ngwenya said the MoU will promote access to technology to Member States based on a Trusted Cloud Infrastructure that focuses on the secure deployment of modern IT operations.

“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,” said Mr. Ngwenya.

The collaboration 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.

“Through Microsoft’s 4Afrika Initiative, we have been working to increase regional trade and the growth of the knowledge economy in Africa,” said Mr. Antony Cook, Associate General Counsel, Legal and Corporate Affairs Microsoft, Middle East and Africa.

“Through influential partnerships, such as the one with COMESA, we aim to scale across the region further to impact not just thousands, but millions,” he said.

The collaboration is further expected to focus on fostering innovation across the COMESA region by promoting the value and protection of Intellectual Property.

It will also encourage development of e-Government solutions that will facilitate, simplify and stimulate investment and trade across the COMESA region, to save on time and the cost of complying with business governance and regulations.

This collaboration fits squarely with COMESA’s mandate and demonstrates the commitment to promote common interests for economic development in the region.

The implementation of the MoU will be the responsibility of the COMESA Business Council, as the voice of the private sector in the region.