The Malawi government and the New Partnership for Development (Nepad) have launched the Malawi Internet Governance Forum (Malawi IGF).

Head of Nepad's e-Africa Programme, Edmund Katiti, said that with the launch, Malawi would now be able to take advantage of the global internet economy.

Malawi is the first country to start an IGF this year and only the third after South Africa and Tanzania to have a forum in SADC.

E-Government Principal Secretary Olive Chikankheni said the forum will bring together business, nongovernmental organisations, government and end-users to discuss internet-related policy issues, exchange ideas and best practices, and help shape the future of the internet in an open, inclusive and sustainable setting. The forum should also help promote ICT for inclusive and sustainable development.

The ICT sector grew to 3.8 percent of the country's GDP in 2013, and this is expected to reach 3.9 percent this year. 

Source: http://www.telecompaper.com/news/malawi-launches-internet-governance-forum--1027294