The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said it will be organizing the first session of the Committee on Development Information Science and Technology (CODIST-I) in Addis Ababa from 28 April to 1 May 2009,

The session will bring together over 300 scientists in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), geo-information and science and technology and experts from member states.

Director, ICT and Science and Technology Division at ECA, Aida Opoku-Mensah told journalists on Friday that the theme for CODIST-1 is Scientific Development, Innovation and the Knowledge Economy.

The role of CODIST is to review challenges and issues pertaining to the ICT, geo-information, science and technology sectors.

It will also formulate policies and strategies to address Africa’s development challenges and determine priorities to be reflected in the work program of the ICT, Science and Technology Division of ECA.

The event will include workshops, a colloquium and awards ceremony of the 2008 'Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA)’ in collaboration with the Canada Fund for Africa.

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