ZIMBABWE KEEN TO LEARN ICT GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES FROM MALAYSIA

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

BUKIT JALIL (Malaysia), June 21 (Bernama) -- Zimbabwe will soon send a
technical team to Malaysia to learn global best practices in information and
communications technology (ICT), its Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur G. Mutambara
said.

He said its technical team would stay in the country for a month to
understand the ICT business model and the impact on economic growth.

"We want them to return and document the plan to implement ICT to foster
economic growth," he told Bernama after visiting MIMOS Bhd here.

MIMOS is a research and development organisation which functions as an
advisor to the Malaysian Government on technologies, policies and strategies
relating to ICT.

"We are now learning how to use science and technology to leap-frog Zimbabwe
into the information and knowledge economy, particularly in agriculture, mining
and manufacturing," said Mutambara.

In 2009, ICT contributed 15.2 per cent to the country's gross domestic
product, after agriculture which was 15.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
Director-General Charles Sibanda urged Malaysian ICT equipment and related
services provider to tap the African market.

He said currently, there was a dire need for animal detection sensor
equipments and financial business software.

"If selling good and affordable products and services is not a big challenge
for your company, Africa can provide that opportunity," he noted.