South Africa hosts World IT and Services Alliance board meeting

The world's foremost alliance of national information and communication technology (ICT) industry associations  rolled into Johannesburg the last weekend of October. That's because the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) conducted its board meeting in this country, hosted by the South African Information Technology Association (ITA).

WITSA is an alliance of the national ICT industry associations of 74 countries. The body is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development, facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services and strengthening the capacity of its member associations.
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The body hosts the World Congress on Information Technology, an event which takes place every two years and which attracts global participation from IT industry heavyweights. The Congress last took place in Amsterdam this May.

“It is an honour and a privilege to host the delegates. On the back of a highly successful FIFA World Cup, the ITA is also took the opportunity to share as much of what Johannesburg and its surrounds has to offer to further advance the message that we are a country which, despite the challenges we face, is alive with development and potential,” Latchman says.

He points to the 'Declaration of Amsterdam', which resulted from the most recent World Congress as an indication of the value of the work done by WITSA: “This declaration, subtitled 'The Digital Road to Recovery', spells out how ICT can and should be applied to stimulate economic growth and address key societal challenges such as climate change, healthcare and quality of life. The Declaration provides strong support for the development of ICT as a crucial factor on the path to global economic recovery.”