18 Apr 2024

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been acknowledged as a key driver to economic success. Speaking during the inauguration of the Huawei Botswana 2024 Telecom congress in Tlokweng on April 16, Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said his ministry was highly aware of the transformative power of ICT in driving socio-economic development and fostering innovation.

Therefore, he said, the Telecom congress stood as a testament to a collective commitment to harnessing technology for the betterment of society.

“Botswana is pursuing a digital transformation and mind-set change agenda which has the objective of stimulating and mainstreaming ICTs across all sectors of the economy,” he said adding that this agenda aimed to achieve a fundamental objective to integrate and prioritize ICT across every facet of the economy.

He said the overarching goal was to ensure that ICTs became pervasive and indispensable tools, not limited to specific sectors but rather woven into the fabric of all economic activities.

“This strategic approach underscores Botswana’s commitment to leveraging technology as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and sustainable development across its entire economic landscape,” he opined.

Mr Segokgo nevertheless noted that Huawei’s pledge to empower operators and partners to unlock the full potential of 5.5G was testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence. He said by showcasing their comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions under the theme of advanced intelligence, Huawei was not just presenting cutting-edge technology but paving way for a smarter, more interconnected future.

“This diverse offering enables operators to build ubiquitous, efficient, and collaborative networks that will serve as the backbone of the intelligent world of tomorrow,” he added. Commercial and economic counsellor of China to Botswana, Mr Lan Yuqiang, applauded Huawei for organising the congress which unveiled ICT innovations and solutions important to promoting economic growth and development.

He also noted that Huawei had been involved in helping governments, corporate institutions and business houses in ICT development for many years around the world and yet again, the congress provided an opportunity for partners in ICT to capitalise on innovations and opportunities on offer that could help strengthen their competitive advantage.

Further, he said the development of ICT continued to have phenomenal impact in virtually every aspect of the human life, affecting organisations as well as nations. “Huawei’s ICT innovations, products and services are paramount in facilitating a growing connectivity landscape in Botswana,” he said.

Huawei Botswana Managing Director, Mr David Zhang, said Huawei was committed to improving the capabilities of its marketing and service systems, by optimizing processes and ICT tools. ENDS