San Tome - In the speech delivered during the debating sessions yesterday (26) at the 5th Conference of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), in San Tome and Principe, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underlined the need for greater participation by developing countries in the digital world. "Let's turn digital inclusion into a powerful arm of social inclusion," the Brazilian President told the seven heads of State and government who are attending the meeting. The membership of the CPLP embraces Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, San Tome and Principe, and East Timor.

The President added that the current challenge is to include all the citizens of the CPLP in this process. "The resources of modern communications technology contribute to transparency in public administration. We are talking about ways to strengthen citizenship and perfect democratic institutions," he said.

President Lula stressed the urgency of digital inclusion and argued that the speed of technological transformations can cause developing countries to miss out on opportunities in today's world. "Brazil has been investing in an innovative Electronic Government Program to improve the quality of public services, especially those directed at marginalized segments of society," he recalled. He also mentioned personal income tax returns, transmitted with security and ease nowadays via the internet.

The transparency of government actions, according to the President, is directly linked to the process of introducing informatics into the State. He also called for training professionals, "especially in needy communities, to use the new information technologies."

Agência Brasil
Reporters: Marcos Chagas and Nelson Mota
Translator: David Silberstein
07/27/2004