Nape: digital economy framework preparations at final stages
DAR ES SALAAM: THE government on Wednesday reiterated that process of making National Digital Economy Framework was at final stages.
Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye, made the assurance in Dar es Salaam when addressing the 7th Tanzania Annual ICT Conference.
This strategic framework aims to guide the country’s digital transformation and economic growth in the coming decade.
The document is also intended to create a ground breaking initiative aiming to significantly enhance the utilisation of digital technology in both government and private sector services.
The minister Nnauye also assured private sector players of government’s support in their initiatives to build digital infrastructures.
He underlined the vital need for infrastructure development to advance towards a digital economy.
He hailed President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts in strengthening partnerships with countries that have made strides in the digital economy.
Notably, he mentioned the recent agreements that President Samia made with India in the field of ICTs and digital economy.
He pointed out India’s proficiency in digital payment models, suggesting that collaboration with such countries is highly beneficial.
The minister expressed hope that Tanzania would learn from more advanced countries in technology adoption and build an environment conducive to data management and the construction of data centres.
He encouraged participants of the conference to contribute their ideas and expertise which will formulate meaningful recommendations for the nation’s efforts to transform its economy into digital.
He also urged forum participants to engage actively in the forum discussions themed ‘unleashing emerging technologies in the digital transformation for job creation and socio-economic development’.
Additionally, he commended organisers of the forum for dedicating days for women and youth to discuss technology-related matters at the sidelines of the conference.
“Dedicating days means recognising the need for increasing participation of women and young people in the tech industry,” explained Nape.
Tanzania has been recognised by the World Bank for its maturity in technology adoption, ranking first in East Africa and second in the entire African continent.
He emphasised the importance of cybersecurity and the responsible use of technology, stressing that, as a nation, we can collectively address online misuse.
Mr Nape expressed his desire for the forum to be solution-oriented, driving progress and not just serving as a platform for mere discussions.
He acknowledged the increasing number of internet users from 29.9 million people in April last year to 34.4 million people in June this year in the country.
He said the increase signifies 23 per cent, underscoring the growing of digital technology.
The Minister also disclosed that he had recently signed several licenses with investors, something that he said reflects investors’ satisfaction with the government’s efforts towards a digital economy.
Nnauye recognised the need for data protection and informed the audience about the Data Protection Act and the establishment of specialised data oversight bodies.
Furthermore, he mentioned the actions taken by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to require VPN registration, as part of efforts to curb the misuse of social media and data.
He also reiterated his vision for technology to be a source of employment and positive transformation in the country, emphasising that the true potential of technology is realised when it helps individuals achieve their goals and contributes to overall development.
In another development, a Member of Parliament for Mtera constituency, Livingston Lusinde, commended President Samia for establishing the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology.
Mr Lusinde, who is a member of the Parliamentary Infrastructure Development Committee, assured the minister of the Committee’s support in realising the country’s digital economy goals for he said digital economy is crucial in today world.
