20 Jul 2022

 President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has presented Botswana’s vision towards digital transformation as an investment opportunity for US investors at the ongoing 14th US Africa Business Summit in Morocco.
  Delivering the keynote address during a panel discussion themed; Narrowing Africa’s Digital Divide in a post COVID-19 World yesterday, he said digital innovation remained the key enabler to help Botswana leap frog towards a digitalised economy.
President Masisi went on to detail the country’s digital transformation efforts which he said included investment in infrastructure to support its economic ecosystem to further enhance its goal of becoming  innovationfrica’s leader .
The country’s strategy entitled, Towards Digital Transformation for Botswana, was to be facilitated though good infrastructure, which included expansive broadband network running on fibre and provided both terrestrial and undersea connectivity, he said.
Dr Masisi said also in place was a Digital Transformation Strategy to take advantage of opportunities presented by Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to propel the country towards realisation of  its knowledge-based economy aspirations.
“This strategic preposition in our view, requires a comprehensive digital transformation, from the way we live, work, learn, to deliver smart, sustainable society aligned with our national vision of transforming the nation from upper-middle income to high income country by the year 2036,” he said.
He said the strategy would also present projects propositions to potential investors for consideration, citing the Doing Business in Botswana regulatory framework.
President Masisi said Botswana remained steadfast in its endeavour to continuously monitor, evaluate and improve the ease-of-doing-business environment as well as  its  global competitiveness rankings.
He added that with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) support, the country was currently drafting an investment facilitation law as part of the broader commitment to streamline business-related procedures and remove bureaucratic impediments.
At regional and continental levels, he said the SADC Integration Agenda and African Union’s Agenda 2063 were aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals particularly on creating inclusive, prosperous and peaceful societies.
He said digital innovation with necessary ICT infrastructure was also handy in accelerating sustainable development, especially in view of the opportunities presented by more integrated market access platforms such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
President Masisi emphasised the importance of putting in place the right legal and regulatory frameworks for privacy and data protection as well as the desired trust framework for seamless functionality of linked systems.
He said developing countries had lost crucial ground as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic that widened the ‘financial divide’ and the inability to raise enough resources for continued sustainable development.
“This requires urgent deliberate actions and interventions from strategic development partners like yourselves. Your interventions will assist us to awaken our economies to be able to take head-on the challenges brought about by the pandemic,” he stated.
Meanwhile US vice president Kamala Harris has announced that the second US Africa Leaders’ Summit will take place in Washington, DC  in December.
She urged African leaders to use the opportunity  to advance the continent’s aspirations.
“This summit will resemble our endearing commitment to our African partners and will be based on principles of mutual respect and shared interests and bolstering economic ties,’ she said.
She stated that America was committed to partnering with Africa through public private partnerships that brought private sector expertise on board.
The US Africa Business Summit brings together public and private sector stakeholders to explore building stronger US and Africa trade, investment and commercial ties in the wake of  unprecedented health and economic challenges.
 It is held under the theme; Building Forward Together. ENDS