Inauguration of the Pan-African e-Network Project


Inauguration of the Pan-African e-Network Project


1. The first phase of the Pan-African e-Network Project was inaugurated on 26th February 2009 by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister(EAM), Govt of India, at the TCIL Bhawan in New Delhi, amidst the presence of High Commissioners and Ambassadors of African countries. So far 33 countries have joined the Pan-African e-Network Project. 2. Eleven countries were covered in the first phase where both the Learning Centres for tele-education and Patient-end Hospitals for tele-medicine are ready. These are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Seychelles. 3. Nine more countries namely Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Djibouti, Egypt, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger and Uganda are expected be covered in the second phase by March 31st, 2009, while the remaining countries would be covered in the third phase by 30th June 2009. 4. EAM had a brief online interaction with Mr Erastus J.O.Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of African Union Commission and cabinet ministers of each of the eleven ministers through the network. During his address, EAM described the Pan-African e-Network Project as a shining example of South-South Cooperation and added that under this project India has gifted a dedicated satellite hub for e-connectivity in Africa to help bridge the digital divide. 5. EAM said that the project aims to create significant linkages for tele-education and tele-medicine, making available the facilities and expertise of some of the best universities and super-specialty hospitals in India to the people of Africa. The project is also equipped to support e-governance, e-commerce, infotainment, resource mapping and meteorological and other services in the African countries, besides providing VVIP connectivity among the Heads of State of the African countries through a highly secure closed satellite network. He urged Africa to take advantage of the full range of services offered by India and asked the remaining countries to join the project early.