BRICS Communications and ICT Ministers have agreed to help promote
the cooperation of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) from BRICS
member countries.
ˇ§Key to unleashing their potential, is for governments to support and
invest in the innovation and development of ICT SMMEs and the broader ICT
industry,ˇ¨ said a communiqué issued at the end of the BRICS meeting for
communications and ICT ministers.
The ministers have urged SMMEs to continue to innovate and find solutions
that will advance universal telecommunications access.
The member states identified SMMEs as potential engines for growth and job
creation.
The meeting, held recently in Durban, agreed to share studies, expertise and
information on the roll-out of 5G within BRICS member countries. This
includes encouraging intra-BRICS investment on 5G and other new emerging
technologies.
The ministers further agreed to continue to cooperate on cybersecurity and
to increase partnerships on digital skills training.
A common agenda on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in particular the
participation in the operationalisation of the Partnership on New Industrial
Revolution (PartNIR), was agreed on.
The PartNIR aims to deepen BRICS cooperation in digitalisation,
industrialisation, innovation, inclusiveness and investment, to maximise the
opportunities and address the challenges arising from the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, said the declaration.
The PartNIR is one of the resolutions of the BRICS Summit. This will be done
through the establishment of the Digital BRICS Task Force to coordinate
cooperation on the digital and ICT enabled interventions for the Fourth
Industrial Revolution.
The Fourth BRICS Ministers of Communication Meeting was held in Durban. ICT
Ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa attended the
meeting.
The meeting was aimed at taking forward policy approaches to emerging
technologies, progress in business linkages and strengthening cooperation on
the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the five countries.
ˇV Source:
SAnews.gov.za |