ITU SG Houlin Zhao: “We rely on Algeria for upgrading of ICTs in Africa and in the world”

Algeria is the most “dynamic” Arab country in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), said Tuesday in Algiers, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao, adding that the Union “relies a lot” on Algeria for improving ICTs in Africa and in the world at large.

“According to the latest assessment report of the ITU, Algeria is recognized as the most dynamic country in the Arab world given that out of the 170 countries involved in the world ranking, it has advanced 9 places, which is a remarkable performance,” Mr  Zhao told the press after the audience granted to him by the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra.

Considering that this progress “is not easy because each country tries to improve its position”, he noted adding that “even the most developed states succeed in advancing only one (1) or two (2) slots in this world ranking”.

While reiterating his “congratulations” to Algeria “for this achievement”, he encouraged the country “to go further” in this field. “We rely heavily on Algeria for the improvement of ICT in the world notably in the African continent,” he underlined.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Post and Information and Communication Technologies, Ms Imane-Houda Feraoun, accompanied by the visiting Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao on Monday visited the National Agency for the Promotion and Development of Technology Parks (ANPT) of Sidi Abdellah (Suburban Algiers).

On the occasion, Ms Feraoun and Mr. Zhao inquired on the spot about the projects of start-ups, in incubation or post-incubation at the Sidi Abdallah Cyber-Park.

These projects are meant to exploit the new Information and Communication technologies and to cover several fields of endeavor.