Assembly/AU/Dec.384(XVII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE PROJECT TO ESTABLISH THE AFRICAN CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (CAETIC) IN TUNIS, REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA Doc. Assembly/AU/12 (XVII)Add.7 The Assembly, 1. TAKES NOTE of the proposal by the Republic of Tunisia to establish an African Centre of Excellence in Information and Communication Technologies in Tunis; 2. UNDERSCORES the strategic dimension of the ICT sector for socio-economic development and the attainment of the MDGs in Africa; 3. RECALLS the Abuja Declaration adopted by the Third Session of the Conference of African Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2010, which supports the establishment of an African, Continental ICT Centre of Excellence; 4. RECOGNIZES the importance of the role that the Centre will play in promoting ownership of ICTs by the Continent, developing African competence and raising the awareness of decision-makers on the major issues of the sector; 5. REQUESTS the Commission, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, to begin the necessary negotiations with the various partners of Africa in order to implement the project; 6. ALSO REQUESTS the Commission to submit a report on the implementation of this Decision to the next Ordinary Session of the Assembly in January 2012.