African leaders, European business personnel, and international officials delivered speeches at the opening of the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe held in Vienna focusing on digital transition in Africa and the potential of the ICT sector in the continent.
African Countries Experience
President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo stated that 20 percent of Africans have internet access. He explained that his country focused on the digital revolution as it developed digital IDs for citizens and developed systems that would enable financial transactions for the purpose of increasing production
Akufo-Addo highlighted that concerted efforts are needed to face cyber crimes which requires cooperation on the international scale. He added that different countries should formulate similar policies that encourage the development of a digital infrastructure, and the empowerment of youth to use technology.
“Digital economy is accelerating which opens the door” for the international economy to participate in economic development, President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde said. However, she highlighted that African countries must contemplate how fast they are keeping pace with that digital development.
Zewde stressed that African countries must have a vision to develop the private sector when comes to digitalization. She said that Ethiopia has established centers for citizens to pay all bills of services provided by governmental institutions.
The Ethiopian government has distributed computers, and introduced the internet service in the countryside. Ethiopia has 60 million mobile phone users, and wants the number to increase in rural areas. Zewde stated that many economic sectors in Ethiopia, including the ICT sector, must be “liberated.”
Egypt Today
