Saint Lucia is set to capitalize on the vast benefits of a policy guiding the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) nationally.

The launch of the development of the National ICT Policy and Sectoral Strategies was held at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort this week.

Minister for Social Transformation, Public Service, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports, Honourable Lenard Montoute said the policy will maximize efficiency in government processes.

"We are aware of island states around the world which have successfully exploited the power of ICT for national development, and we are able to leap frog obstacles to the development, and thus achieve significantly their development goals. Of course I mentioned earlier, we hope to learn from the experiences of neighbouring countries, and I want to take the opportunity to single out one of our allies in this process-The Republic of China on Taiwan,'said Montoute.

Support from Taiwan includes policy guidelines and implementation support for a soon to be launched ICT centre.

Minister for Public Administration of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh applauded Saint Lucia's initiative in pursuing an ICT policy.

Swaratsingh said,"Here is an unprecedented opportunity to develop our human resource, which is an essential factor in the sustainable progress and true growth. ICT provides a new and unique opportunity for the development of our people at all levels of the society, because it has the capacity to overcome deficits in social and economic infrastructure at both the individual and community level, and to empower people for individual fulfilment and a greater contribution to society."

Minister Montoute said the ICT strategies will address the use of ICT in various sectors, and also the leveraging of ICT to develop and strengthen linkages between key sectors.