6 IT centres developed in several African nations in last 4 yrs: MEA

Six IT centres have been developed in several African nations in the last four years and India is helping them bridge the digital divide, a senior MEA official said on Tuesday.

Addressing the India-Africa Higher Education and Skills Development Summit, T S Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said every year thousand of bright minds come from Africa to Indian universities and colleges.

"These students are the bridge to our future, carrying on a tradition to which many African leaders occupying powerful positions would testify," he said.

Asserting that India is also helping African countries to bridge the digital divide, Tirumurti said, "The Pan Africa e-Network was launched in Africa at the continental level in 2009. It aimed at harnessing socio-economic benefits of ICT (information and communications technology) for tele-education and tele-medicine.

"The first phase of this programme is over and we are now launching the second phase."