68H eyes Gateway award

68H eyes Gateway award

WASHINGTON DC: Jakarta-based radio news station 68H is among six finalists chosen from a field of 135 nominations for the Development Gateway Award 2005.

The US$100,000 award, to be announced in September, will recognize one of the finalists for outstanding achievement in using information technology to improve people's lives in developing countries.

Working in all world regions, the nominees demonstrate the impact that technologies such as the Internet, satellite communications, smart cards, and others can have on development in various fields.

The Indonesian news radio and the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation win plaudits for having been active in relief and recovery after the Asian tsunami, while ITC e-Choupal and MAP-IT are cited for helping India's farmers improve their livelihoods. Other finalists include Modemmujer, of Mexico, for advancing women's rights in Latin America; and Prodem, for bringing banking to Bolivian villages.

The award, with major sponsorship from Deutsche Telekom, will be presented at the Development Gateway Forum 2005 on Sept. 16-17 in Beijing. -- JP