Microsoft pledges to bridge digital divide in Africa
13/9/2006 15:39
Microsoft yesterday pledged to bridge the digital divide in Africa to
accelerate the continent's drive for economic growth.
Microsoft's chairman
for Africa Cheick Modibo Diarra told a news conference in Nairobi that Africa is
one of the last frontiers where challenges and opportunities thrive in the
spheres of education, health, technical, production and
infrastructure.
"Increased access to technology has been identified as a
prerequisite for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over the next
decade ... broadening digital inclusion to millions of people must be a shared
public/private effort," said Diarra, who is currently in Kenya to address the
Youth Empowerment Summit, which opens in Nairobi on Wednesday.
He will meet
senior government and industry players in his first official trip to the east
African nation.
He said the global software manufacturer has a history of
partnering with governments and inter-governmental organizations to support
local economic growth, capacity building and development in Africa.
"As part
of that commitment, and as a business with operations across Africa, Microsoft
is helping in the advancement of the social and economic well-being of the
continent," he said.
"We are also keen on helping address the key societal
challenges associated with technology because we believe that training people to
participate in the knowledge economy reduces the strain of poverty," said
Diarra, a Malian.
He said Kenya, with a population of more than 32 million --
41 percent of who are younger than 15 and with 65 percent living in rural areas
-- is in urgent need for an intervention that can help its youth and potential
workforce seize the employability and entrepreneurship opportunities presented
by the knowledge-based economy.
"Technology is a powerful tool that can allow
Kenya and indeed the entire African continent to show tremendous economic growth
in the coming years, but if only we can first address the divide between those
that can benefit from technology and those that currently can't," Diarra
said.
Last year, Microsoft launched its Kiswahili Localization Program, under
which a language interface pack was released that converted the English version
of Microsoft Windows and Office into one that was Kiswahili.
A team of local
linguistics Microsoft experts collaborated to create a glossary of Kiswahili
words for common computer terms and therefore led the localization
effort.
"We look forward to continuing this exciting work across Africa to
develop innovative programs and IT solutions that are designed to improve
services for citizens, increase IT access and create economic opportunity," said
Diarra.
xinhua
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