Afrique en ligne
African news: Economics Politics Finance Sport, Dakar - 29/07/2008

WEST AFRICA - SENEGAL

Dakar, Senegal – In Dakar on Tuesday the National Assembly of Senegal adopted a bill introducing a voluntary contribution of one percent on public procurement contracts for digital goods and services, payable to the Digital Solidarity Fund.

The Senegalese Minister of Infrastructure, Transport, Telecommunications and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), Habib Sy was present for the vote.

Speaking during the debate, Mr Sy said that the introduction of a voluntary one percent contribution on the pre-tax value of public procurement contracts for ICT was necessary to enable the government to contribute in the long term to the financing mechanism of the Digital Solidarity Fund, a tool which is fundamental to close the digital divide between Africa and developed countries.

He explained that the operating mechanism of this Fund is based on a financing system funded by public authorities and private businesses choosing to donate one percent of the value of their ICT contacts.