WINDHOEK – An Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Summit organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, in partnership with Telecom Namibia, will be held today and tomorrow at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort.
The summit is intended to expose Namibia’s youth to ICT development and trends, locally, regionally and internationally and aims to provide a platform where countries in Africa come together to exchange ideas on the latest developments, focusing specifically on how ICT can improve lives. The objectives of the summit are to bring together major players in the telecommunication industry and governments to share information on latest developments in the sector.
“Today information and communication technologies are improving at a fascinating rate. The industry is probably the fastest growing industry in the world because the information communication technologies of yesterday will be obsolete tomorrow, superseded by ever improving ICT efficiencies and breakthrough innovations. The ICT services and infrastructure that enable the digital economy are now an integral part of our everyday life. They encompass business, education, freedom of speech, entertainment, as well as social inclusion and health, reaching out to improve the well-being of people across the globe,” said ICT Minister, Joel Kaapanda.
The two-day gathering also aims to share with participants, including the business world, corporate and SME delegates, how to utilize ICT to contribute to economic sustainability by streamlining their operations and by being part of the global market. In addition, the summit hopes to bring together government and corporate participants to discuss partnerships where applications/solutions will improve good governance and the availability of much needed services.
According to the organizers, their will be a specific focus on bringing connectivity to the rural community to provide a better life for those in rural areas and to spur on rural development. “Like in the past, the summit programme will feature keynote presentations, high-level discussions, break-away sessions, workshops and extensive opportunities for networking,” added Kaapanda.