The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, took part, on October 29, in a virtual workshop organized within the framework of the regional innovation forum of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU ) for the Africa region. The objective is to discuss issues related to the integration of competitive digital innovation ecosystems in the era of covid-19.
The Regional Innovation Forum for Africa aims to equip participants with new approaches, ideas, tools, frameworks, communities to understand how to integrate sustainable ecosystems and take advantage of opportunities to accelerate digital transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
Also, the initiative takes stakeholders on a learning journey to gain insight on how to strengthen regional and national capacities of ecosystem builders, innovators and champions who will identify challenges and opportunities in the region. By unleashing the potential of digital ecosystems, the forum plans to teach attendees how to overcome the digital innovation gap and accelerate digital transformation in the age of covid-19.
According to ITU, digital transformation in sub-Saharan Africa has made great strides through innovative entrepreneurs, progressive government initiatives and collaborative ecosystem builders across the continent. Unfortunately, the onset of the covid-19 pandemic has jeopardized livelihoods and hit the informal sector, which provides between 50 and 75% of jobs.
“I see in the holding of this workshop the commitment of shared intelligences to building digital economies in order to solve the development problems that sub-Saharan Africa is singularly facing. Such as the lack of access to financial inclusion, education or drinking water etc. », Said Léon Juste Ibombo.
He said that Congo’s innovation policy is based on infrastructure and in particular the information highways. For him, well-supported innovation can act as a catalyst and a powerful accelerator for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It plays an essential role in providing sustainable, inclusive and adapted solutions, thus allowing populations to access basic needs and services such as energy, education or health.
“I hope that this forum will provide us with the necessary tools to help us further accelerate the digital transformation of our States by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Léon Juste Ibombo.
ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICT). She is committed to connecting all the people of the world.