Rwanda is now a Full Member Country of the CTO, said the organization in a statement. The full membership will provide the Rwanda the opportunity to utilize CTO’s existing networks and capabilities to the maximum and shape the organization’s future through its seat at the CTO Council.
“For us joining the CTO means far more than becoming a member of yet another international body. It is an organisation that is close to its members and allows members active participation in the decision making process. We intend to use the network of the CTO to make Rwanda a center of ICT excellence in Africa and to assure that Rwanda’s presence is felt in the Global ICT agenda”, commented Ignace Gatare, the Minister in the Office of The President in Charge of ICT, who was responsible of the country’s admission to the CTO.
Although Commonwealth countries are part of CTO under its Constitution, full member countries are the only one who can appoint a Representative to the CTO Council and participate in the governance. CTO admitted the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) as a member in 2007, which helped strengthen relationships between Rwanda and CTO.
Founded in 1901, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international development partnership between the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, businesses and civil society organisations. Its aim is to reduce poverty and help bridge the digital divide and achieve social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries knowledge-sharing programs in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
CTO has held various events in Commonwealth Africa, including the 3rd Annual e-Gov Africa Forum 2009 in Rwanda, in March 2009, attended by over 100 hi-profile delegates, including ministers, policy makers, ICT experts and thought leaders from across Africa.
