By Standard Digital Reporter
A strong Kenyan delegation is expected to attend an international conference at which Africa is explore the use of ICT in spurring social and economic development will be discussed.

Africa’s potential for a market boom in ICT  services will be discussed as well as how to roll out services to reach the continent’s  one billion strong population.
The event is organised by South Africa’s Department of Communications and endorsed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations’ leading information and technology agency with 193 member states and 700 associates. It is hoped that it will be held annually for the next five years.
Top  ministry of Information and Communications officials, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and members of the Kenya ICT board are expected to troop to Cape Town for the historic UN ITU backed conference between June 4-7.
Information minister  Samuel Poghisio, PS Dr Bitange Ndemo are expected to lead the Kenyan delegation

The ICT INDABA 2012 has identified six critical sectors in driving the ICT as a tool for development: Education; Health; Infrastructure; Agri Business; Trade and Extractive Industries.

The ICT INDABA will take place under themes “Connecting Africa to Development with ICTs” and Bridging the Digital Divide. Among other topics, it will look at “Digital Africa: A Vision for the Future and Preparing Skills and Create Jobs that will enable the Emergence of the Knowledge Economy.”
“One of the keynote speakers will be Mr Houlin Zhao, the ITU’s Deputy Secretary General, who will present a paper “The Powerful Dynamic Role of ICTs in Socio-economic Development.” Said Vuyo Bavuma the communactriaon officer for the event said.
Under the theme of Digital Africa – A Vision for Africa, a session is to be devoted to on “Developing Smart Cities in the African Context.” Mr Vijay Tharumartnam of Multi Development Corporation will speak on the Malaysian Silicon Valley Experience. There will also be presentations on Bangalore, Indian’s Silicon Valley, Mexico’s delegation to the ICT INDABA in South Africa.
Guadalajara and Egypt.
Four speakers from Rwanda, China, India, and Cuba will present papers on the development models under the theme of “Sourcing, Building and Retaining the necessary Skills Force for a robust ICT Industry.”

Kenya is expected to learn from Rwanda how it is currently training a globally competitive ICT skills base.”

Dr Jun Xia, of School of Economics and Management at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, will speak about the Chinese Model of “Advancing Rural Development through ICTs.”

A ninisterial Forum involving African ministers will reflect on some of the key components of the ICT Indaba including innovations across Africa, the challenges and opportunities facing the continent. Other discussion points will include:
• International Connectivity: Development, challenges and constraints
• Funding and investment in Broadband: A platform for the growth of the Information Society and Knowledge economy in Africa
• Building productive capacity to become Information Society and Knowledge Economy in Africa
• Africa Infrastructure for Telecommunications, Broadcasting for the Internet keeping regional traffic regional, and