Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana has taken steps toward digitilisation with the creation of the National Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to support national digital unification, digitise public services through e-government development and create an innovation ecosystem to support entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the sidelines of President Advocate Duma Boko’s State Visit in Estonia, Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere said digital transformation remained government’s priority to contribute to economic growth and diversification, as well as to job creation
He highlighted that government was committed to rolling out services digitally by investing in digitalisation and innovation, a move geared toward economic diversification and sustainable economic development.
Minister Tshere indicated that government network modernisation was in full swing through different initiatives with hope to bring the country ICT infrastructure to a desirable state of effective and efficient service delivery.
“Our approach toward digital transformation has been to activate the entire country to work toward this common goal,” he said.
He further explained that government was in the process of reviewing legislations, policies and strategies as well as all the structures that needed to work cohesively for the realisation of a digital Botswana.
Although Botswana is still at an infant stage in the digital space, Minister Tshere stated that it had made progress in the laying out of the digital infrastructure master plan and formulation of the legislative frameworks.
In this regard, he said government would during the upcoming parliament session present the digital services bill, with the aim to legally facilitate and regulate the rolling out of some of government services digitally.
Thus, he said it was only fitting that government promoted the digitalisation of the public sector and deliver citizen-centered solutions in an effective and efficient manner.
He said Batswana should through technology, be able to shape a stronger presence and learn to grow and build their technological capacity to enhance digital literacy.
He said Botswana, with its rapidly developing society and economy, was committed to digital transformation, an area in which Estonia had experience and expertise on thus the visit would create a perfect platform for both countries to exchange note.
Thus, Minister Tshere said it was important to undertake the visit in an effort to strive toward attaining a digitilised economy hence pleaded with local innovators to engineer products that would address challenges.
“Estonia has already proved to be a powerhouse in digital transition with a proven record in creating a conducive business climate, digital services, data protection and cyber security, excellent startup ecosystem and e-government services hence there is a lot that Botswana aims to learn during this visit,” he said.
He said the collaboration between the two countries was already in motion, citing the recent signing of an agreement between Botswana and the Estonian Centre for International Development cooperation with Expertise France to implement a Team Europe initiative to support digital development in Botswana.
This joint initiative, he said would contribute to improving e-government services in Botswana, promoting seamless data exchange, and increasing public sector efficiency through digital solutions.
“The agreement will assist in developing a national interoperability framework and implement best practices in digital governance to simplify administrative processes, reduce bureaucracy and make services more accessible and inclusive for all citizens,” he said.
Minister Tshere was hopeful that the partnership would contribute in supporting the design and implementation of transparent, user-friendly e-services and digital strategies in Botswana.
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