10 Mar 2022

Government has invested heavily in deploying the pre-requisite connectivity of fibre infrastructure.

Minister of Transport and Communication, Mr Thulagano Segokgo, said the investment was also extended to the undersea cables that enabled Botswana to access information, knowledge and even do business with the rest of the world.

Speaking at INQ digital launch in Gaborone on Wednesday, Minister Segokgo said though there was a significant progress, the country still had a long way to go in digitising the economy and ensuring that every Motswana was included in the transformation.

He said, through initiatives such as SmartBots, government continued to connect more Batswana and automate key government processes.

To realise a return on such investments and diversify the economy, government needed to co-create data-driven products and services that leveraged next-generation technologies.

“Our view as a government is that the most efficient way to achieve this is through partnerships with the private sector. We need to collaborate with companies such as INQ. which has a vision for a better Africa. They have the technology, the experience, skills and the will to invest in our beautiful Botswana,” he said.

Minister Segokgo said government had worked hard to solidfy governance structure that leveled the playing field for investors and it was not surprising that they launched yet another successful foreign direct investment (FDI).

He said there was no doubt that such partnerships were true enablers of sustainable development across all sectors of the economy.

Mr Segokgo said government would continue to prioritise and promote investments in innovation and compete in global markets.

Government, he said, would always underscore the need for the country to pursue its economic development in a sustainable manner with a significant focus on meeting the current generation’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

He said inq’s vision of ‘re-imagining a better future through digital solutions’ was relevant to Botswana, hence government intending to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) to improve the livelihood of the nation.

The minister said ‘through partnerships with technology companies like inq. we will build platforms that will intensify the use of green technologies in line with Environmental Sustainable Goals (ESGs), increasing Botswana’s competitive advantage in attracting more foreign investors as we drive Digital Corporation and economic development in an environmentally friendly manner.’

“Inq. has invested in building a skilled and knowledgeable workforce and has created employment for Batswana. I mean out of their 27 employees, 26 including the MD are Batswana, of which 46 per cent are women (a true equal opportunity employer),” he said.

For his part, the managing director of inq digital Botswana, Mr Mokgethi Nyatseng said the launch marked a new chapter that would change the digital fortunes of Botswana with inq. showcasing its transformation from a connectivity service provider to a pioneer of new trends in technology, an edge underwritten by a robust continental thrust of digital know-how that is fast changing the continent.

“All our products ensure the client has absolute convenience, Network Fabric ensures countries can be linked within the same network regardless of boundaries across different countries. 

A business with a regional thrust can enjoy the convenience of sharing the same network,” he said.

He said technology had to give the ability to predict trends and ensure data has meaning for the enterprises to improve and make informed decisions. BOPA