Rwanda focuses on ICT to achieve its Vision 2020

{Rwanda wants to develop its ICT sector with the aim of achieving quick economic development.}

Line minister for ICT was speaking at the recently concluded Smart Rwanda Days conference in Kigali.

“Smart Rwanda Days provides unique opportunities for participants to brainstorm and conceive ideas that represent what Rwanda wants to achieve as the country looks at meeting its Vision 2020, Minister of Youth and ICT,” Philbert Nsengimana said.

The conference was aimed at providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss how ICT can contribute more significantly to Rwanda’s economic and social development..

The minister said Rwandans had no other option than being Smart which was the same to other countries represented for at the conference.

The conference brought together all development practitioners in the sector together with IT suppliers and operators to discuss how to use technology to fast track the transformation that Rwanda is going through.

Digitalizing Rwanda the topic that was chosen for this year was based on the fact that Rwanda was today realizing that ICT is playing a bigger role in contributing to the country’s GDP contributing more than 2% over the last two quarters and therefore to build on this, this is why Rwanda was embarking on an ambitious digitization agenda.

The potential of the Internet to generate economic growth and social development in Africa lies in its ability to transform key sectors such as financial services, education, health, retail, agriculture, and government. McKinsey estimates that technology-related productivity gains in these sectors could reach $148 billion to $318 billion by 2025.

The conference brought in over 700 participants including the private sector, academia, civil society and international organizations who gathered to explore important aspects of the digital economy and position of Africa and Rwanda in particular.

The ICT sector has attracted about 45% of total foreign direct investments which is more than the contribution of trade, financial sector, mining and manufacturing sectors combined.

{{Business week}}