Key MoU to enhance digitalisation, promote digital economy
DAR ES SALAAM: IN a significant step toward enhancing digitalisation and promotion of digital economy, the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Electronic Information Service Co. Ltd. (CECIS) to collaborate on electronic technology and digital skills transfer.
The partnership follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan‘s visit to China in September this year, where she attended the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. During the forum, President Samia met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and enterprise management to discuss potential collaborations that have quickly yielded fruit.
CECIS, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Electronic Corporation (CEC), aims to cooperate in various areas, including training, digital government initiatives and data centre development.
During the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Deputy Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Ms Maryprisca Mahundi, said that the MoU aligns with the government’s policy of enhancing cooperation and supporting the accelerated implementation of the newly launched Tanzania Digital Economy Framework 2024-2034.
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“The ministry believes this collaboration will maximise our initiatives’ potential, enhance the digital capacity of professionals and attract more Chinese investment, ultimately contributing to job creation and economic development,” said Ms Mahundi.
She reaffirmed the government’s recognition of the ICT sector as a key driver of economic growth, referencing the National ICT Policy of 2016, which provides a comprehensive framework for the industry’s development and has already shown benefits across various sectors.
Additionally, Ms Mahundi noted that the MoU reflects both parties’ commitment and the government’s readiness to implement the outlined initiatives.
Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Mohammed Abdalla, outlined the MoU’s key focus areas, which include fostering the digital economy through advanced digital technologies and training within the electronic information industry to cultivate the necessary talent for Tanzania’s digital landscape.
The collaboration also aims to promote investment from Chinese industries in Tanzania, specifically in electronic information and communication technologies, encompassing areas such as computer manufacturing, IT equipment, networking products, digital communication solutions, electricity meters and consumer electronics.
“The emphasis on capacity building is crucial in today’s digital era, ensuring our workforce possesses the technical skills required to keep pace with rapid technological advancements,” Mr Abdalla noted.
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He also underscored the importance of making electronic gadgets more affordable for citizens and fostering investment in electronic assembly and production facilities.
Chairman of CECIS and Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Committee, Gou Zhaoping, expressed the commitment to deepening cooperation with Tanzania, aligning strategies and supporting the development of Tanzania’s digital economy.
“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Tanzanian government to promote digital technology, jointly build demonstration projects for digital transformation and cultivate digital talent together,” he said.
