Minister hails Yas role in driving digital transformation

LINDI: Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations), Deus Sangu, has hailed Yas for helping accelerate Tanzania’s digital transformation, saying stronger private-sector investment in connectivity and digital finance is vital to modernising agriculture and expanding economic opportunities.

Mr Sangu made the remarks after touring the Yas pavilion at this year’s Lindi Region Nane Nane Exhibition, where he was briefed on the company’s digital connectivity and financial services provided through Yas and Mixx by Yas.

The minister said the growing availability of digital services was helping farmers and other wananchi gain easier access to technology-based solutions that can improve productivity, financial transactions and business operations.

He said private-sector participation was increasingly important as Tanzania sought to harness technology to address challenges facing agriculture, particularly in rural communities where access to information and financial services remains critical.

The minister’s remarks underscore the expanding role of telecommunications companies beyond traditional voice and data services, as mobile connectivity becomes increasingly integrated into agriculture, commerce and financial services.

Yas’ Trade Marketing Manager for the Coast South Zone, George Msofe, said Nane Nane provided the company with an opportunity to engage directly with farmers while demonstrating how digital tools could simplify everyday activities.

“We use exhibitions such as Nane Nane to engage directly with farmers and understand their needs while demonstrating practical digital solutions,” Mr Msofe said.

He said Yas would continue working with government authorities and other stakeholders to expand access to digital services, particularly in rural areas.

The initiative comes as Tanzania increasingly seeks to use digital technologies to strengthen financial inclusion and improve access to information among smallholder farmers, who form a significant part of the country’s productive economy.

For Yas, the Lindi exhibition also provides a platform to demonstrate how mobile connectivity and digital financial services can support farmers beyond communication, including payments and other business transactions.

Mr Msofe said continued investment in digital infrastructure and services would be essential to ensuring that more communities benefit from Tanzania’s digital transformation.