22 Sep 2022

Government is looking to partner with different local and international industry players to come up with solutions that could help develop a smart Botswana.

This was revealed by Minister of Communication, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo at a Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) Digital Shift Enterprise Summit in Gaborone Wednesday September 21.

He said in a world where information technology was a pillar of economic growth and inclusion, Botswana could not be left behind.

Noting that research showed that Botswana was ranked 111th on the frontier technology readiness index, he said the country had potential to be among the best when it came to digital transformation.

 Minister Segokgo said government had embraced technology as an enabler of social and economic development and had committed to promoting digitisation across both private and public sectors. 

Digitisation, he said, ensured availability of real-time information to expedite decision-making and service delivery as well as to grow the domestic ICT sector.

He said the decision to promote digitisation was anchored on the country’s aspirations as espoused in the National Broadband Strategy.

Mr Segokgo said the strategy was aimed at ensuring that at least 90 per cent of both the rural and urban population had access to high-speed broadband connectivity.

In addition, government had established Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) as the first science and technology park to contribute to the country's economic development and competitiveness, he said.

The minister said it was also meant to create new scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based business opportunities.

BTC managing director, Mr Anthony Masunga said the organisation’s role, as technology leaders and experts, was to help drive the country’s transformation.

It did so through applying itself using technology, he said adding,  ‘as BTC we have raised our hand to say we are with you on transformation’.

Mr Masunga said the BTC summit shifted the conversation beyond connectivity.

Since government wanted to build a viable private sector, the conversation should include digital services, he said.

The two-day summit, in its second year running, offered an opportunity for sharing on a wide range of opportunities available through digital transformation. Ends