Engr. Shola Taylor, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) met with the Honourable Dr. Emmanuel Mallia, Malta’s Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy in Valetta, Malta last Saturday to discuss the CTO’s strategic plan and the upcoming Commonwealth ICT Minister’s Forum 2016 taking place in June, and also the CTO’s 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.
They were joined by Dr. Edward Woods, Chairman of the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) and Steve Agius, Chief of Information and Development at MCA.
Discussions about the forthcoming Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum focused on the final preparations for the biennial event.
“The Maltese government deems Information and Communication and Technology (ICT) as a key enabler for the advancement of member countries. It is a tremendous privilege for Malta and me personally to chair the closed door meeting at the Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum in London,” said the Honourable Minister.
During the visit, Taylor also presented on the CTO’s new Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 to the Maltese officials.
Woods commended Taylor on the Plan and expressed the regulator’s interest in assisting the CTO with its implementation.
“The MCA has a strategic role in achieving widespread e-literacy, digital inclusion and the use of ICT as a tool to improve quality of life for everyone, especially disadvantaged groups. We are, therefore, in a position to share our own experiences in many of areas of the CTO’s strategic plan.”
About the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is the oldest and largest Commonwealth intergovernmental organisation in the field of information and communication technologies.
Although our history can be traced back to 1901 with the establishment of the Pacific Cable Board, the organisation has only existed in its present form as an intergovernmental treaty organisation since 1967.
With a diverse membership spanning developed and least developed countries, small island developing states, and more recently also the private sector and civil society, the CTO aims to become a trusted partner for sustainable development for all through ICTs.