TZ assures support to DRC’s subsea cable access
TANZANIA has expressed readiness to extend its National ICT Backbone Infrastructure (NICTBB) to DRC through Lake Tanganyika to foster the regional integration agenda.
The Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye, said the move will provide an alternative route for DRC to access subsea cable through the Indian Ocean.
The minister made the remarks during the Bilateral Tanzania – DR Congo ICT Investment Forum held in Lubumbashi yesterday.
According to Mr Nnauye, the Backbone Network is currently connected to Seven (7) neighbouring countries namely Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zambia.
The minister said, historically, and from geographical positions of two countries, Tanzania and DRC have created an important and lucrative market for various products and services in the East and Central in Africa.
He pleaded to all participants of the URT – DRC ICT Investment Forum, to understand the potentials that the two countries have, and hence make the Forum as a key departure point for bilateral initiatives to explore the potentials and act upon creating a better economy for present and future generations.
He detailed that, when President Samia Suluhu Hassan visited DR Congo two months ago she discussed with her counterpart Felix Tshisekedi several areas potential for their two countries to collaborate.
“The two heads of states emphasized on the importance of infrastructure development projects and the need to increase cooperation in the construction of road and rail infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating trade between the two countries,” he said.
He added: “taking into account the fact that ICT is an enabler in and to other sectors, and also a product and a service, it is imperative and the right time for our sectors to foster this cooperation through collaborative efforts to enhance ICT infrastructure development, usage and acceleration of businesses in our countries.”
Minister Nnauye said it is important for the two countries to forge strategic partnerships as they strive to meet, fulfill and surpass Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“It is imperative that governments join hands with investors, enterprises, and other visionary institutions and individuals to ensure that we are successful in this endeavour,” noted Nnauye.
He urged business communities from both countries to exploit the forum opportunity to exchange skills, work together in research and development, technology as well as capital where necessary.
“It my hope that companies from DR Congo will be willing to assist their Tanzanian counterparts for mutual business relationship through partnerships and joint ventures in businesses and investments,”
The forum objectives are to initialize platforms aimed at developing capacity within URT and DRC to integrate and ultimately, accelerate the development of inclusive digital economies and to embark on the execution of the project for connectivity of Optic Fibre Infrastructure between URT and DRC.
Others are to expand cross border trades through ecommerce and other platforms for trading, expose investment opportunities for the private sector between the two countries, accelerate and utilize Innovative culture within our economies and community at large; and foster business collaboration and business opportunities between business communities of our two countries.
