Emilie Shimbali
Prime Minister (PM) Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has called for developed and developing countries to collaborate on digital technologies for a better future as affordability remains the main challenge in Namibia’s digitalisation journey.
She stated this on Monday during
a panel discussion at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), held in Dubai under the theme “Government of the Future: A New Roadmap to Global Prosperity”.
“Namibia has tried to automate services even before the pandemic, but this was disrupted by the impacts of Covid-19. We need to use advanced technology to cater for our sparsely populated country. Developed countries have so much to offer in terms of natural resources for long-term global development and prosperity,” she noted.
The PM was of the view that developing countries, especially in Africa, should be assisted by developed countries to leverage technological advancements because they have so much to bring to the table in terms of natural resources for sustainable global development and prosperity.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila shared the stage with the former Prime Ministers of Italy, Matteo Renzi and that of France, Dominique de Villepin.
De Villepin said “global and regional politics left so much to be desired in terms of finding solutions during the pandemic,” and that a collective political responsibility is critical for the world to rebuild not only better, but also equitably, from the pandemic.
The GMIS focuses on putting manufacturing at the centre of economic regeneration and policymaking, as well as how technology can be used for global cooperation and collaboration to drive economic growth and global prosperity. It is expected to end on 27 November, and brings together heads of state, ministers and leaders from the global manufacturing and technology communities to discuss, debate and shape the future of manufacturing.