Tanzania moves to establish DTI College to advance digital technology profession

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA  is set to establish a Digital Technology Institute (DTI) in Dodoma at a cost of more than 441bn/- through a concessional loan from the South Korean government, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to produce highly skilled professionals in advanced digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The project will be implemented following the signing of a 167.4m US dollar (about 441.12bn/-) concessional loan agreement between the Tanzanian government and the Export-Import Bank of Korea on November 3 this year. The financing will be provided through the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Speaking during the loan agreement signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Treasury Permanent Secretary Dr Natu El-Maamry Mwamba said the institute would play a significant role in developing and nurturing highly skilled professionals in technical fields while strengthening the country’s ICT sector.

She said the institute would be equipped with modern training facilities, laboratories, digital infrastructure and research facilities, while strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and industries to bridge skills gaps and accelerate technological development.

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“This project comes at an opportune time as Tanzania continues to implement its digital transformation agenda and build the human capital and institutional capacity required to participate fully in the digital economy,” Dr Mwamba said.

She added that the Ministry of Finance would work closely with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and all institutions involved in the project’s implementation, including providing the required counterpart funding to ensure its effective execution.

On his part, Korea Exim Bank Senior Executive Director Dong-Hoon Lee said the project was significant to both countries, describing it as the first EDCF project approved this year and the first to involve support in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

He said discussions on the project’s approval began in April this year, followed by the issuance of the government’s support policy in August, culminating in the signing of the loan agreement in November.