The event which was dubbed, Techno Village, was hosted at Independence Square, in the heart of the St. Kitts capital, Basseterre, starting at 10:30am, with expected conclusion time being 6:00pm.
While making his Feature Address, St. Kitts & Nevis, Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications, Mr. Glenn Phillip, told participants, and those listening via the live radio coverage, that the event is being organized in an effort to sensitize Kittitians to the applications of the ICTs, for socio economic development.
Minister Phillip said the show is also intended to inspire the embracing of technology as a tool for advancement and competitiveness of personal and national interests.
Mr. Phillip reminded his audience that for the past 13 months the CTU has been travelling the Caribbean, sharing the message of innovation, through ICTs for national and regional development, and have demonstrated their commitment, to the realization of maximum returns from the applications of ICT resources, to their member states in numerous successfully implemented ICT road shows.
“The timing is opportune, as government has recently enacted a series of ICT legislation, aimed at providing the legal and regulatory framework for the functioning of the Information Society, and is in the penultimate stages of the implementation of the ICT4EDC project, which has exposed a number of public and private sector and civil society participants, to ICT training, conferences and study tours. All this, to help build capacity in our most valued resource, our nationals,” said the Minister.
He continued, “The government of St. Kitts & Nevis, through the ICT for Education Diversity and Competitiveness project, is proud to partner with the CTU to chart the technology course for our nation. We are indeed well on the way to establishing an information Society and look forward to the contributions of our national representatives and regional partners, in promoting effective ICT use in the Federation and contributing to the ICT policy of the Government.”
Mr. Phillip praised the local companies who participated in the event, and told them that their involvement speaks volumes to their commitment to the cause of national development through the fusion of technology and their very unique talents and skill sets.
In the shift from the manufacturing sector to services, it is companies like those involved in the road show, said the Minister, which would provide the human resources as the key factor of production in sustainable development.
Approximately 40 booths, representing various companies involved in technology, communications and telecommunications, formed part of the Techno Village Road Show.