By Evans Dakwa
Information, Communication Technology Minister, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera is in Kenya for the Connected Africa Summit in Nairobi.
The summit aims to underscore the relevance of the digital economy in driving economic growth and development. It will provide an opportunity for African leaders, investors and businesses to come together and harness the vast opportunities presented by the digital economy while addressing barriers and pressing issues affecting our economies.
Speaking at the opening of the summit, guest of honour and Kenyan President William Ruto said technology is a key element for African integration.
“Our vision for the future is bold, clearly urgent, and visible. Under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, we aim to harness pan-African integration to expand our collective GDP from $ 1.7T to $ 2.5T by 2030,” said President Ruto.
The Kenyan leader underscored the importance of young people in driving Africa’s tech industry.
“At the heart of digital transformation are our young talents whom we must support if we are to realize a robust digital economy,” he said.
The Connected Africa Summit 2024 is poised to transcend the conventional boundaries of growth. This summit serves as a strategic forum to chart a course towards a digitally empowered and interconnected future for Africa, setting the stage for unprecedented growth and prosperity.
Africa has made impressive strides in the digital transformation, positioning itself as a leader in the adoption of digital technologies. Various government have prioritized the development of the digital economy, digitalizing services, launching various initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to accelerate the transformation to create a better, smarter more inclusive and sustainable digital Africa.
Policy makers are determined to ensure that no one is left behind in e-government and the process of digitalisation, with most African countries having a national digital government strategy – along with legislation for cybersecurity, data protection and Innovation.
The summit aims to promote greater collaboration and fuel investment towards the achievement of the Africa’s Digital Agenda 2063 and Vision 2030.