Tanzania aims to become one of the leaders in the digital sector in Africa. To achieve this goal, the executive is focused on building a strong digital infrastructure.
The Tanzanian government is currently working on the implementation of several citizen-centric digital infrastructures, including the construction of a National Enterprise Services Bus (NESB), a GovTech Innovation Center, and a National Services Directory.
The projects were announced by the Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye (photo), at the end of the "Connect-to-Connect 2023" summit held from Saturday, September 9 to Sunday, September 10 in Zanzibar.
In his concluding address, the Minister specified that the National Enterprise Services Bus will facilitate the transparent sharing of data between public and private sector companies. The creation of the GovTech Innovation Centre and the Tanzanian Services Directory is a crucial step in improving the dissemination of information services for government and private entities.
The said initiatives are part of the "Revised National ICT Policy 2023", which aims to create a sound policy environment to narrow the smart device penetration gap in the country and drive digital transformation.
The revised policy “seeks to strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem, encouraging individuals and innovators to generate creative solutions for addressing pressing social issues and also prioritizes cyber security and the development of future-ready ICT human resources in the country,” explained Minister Nape Nnauye.
Tanzania recently multiplied partnerships with other countries and international companies to accelerate the digital transformation of its economy. The government also announced several investments in the Zanzibar Archipelago aimed at making the island a technological innovation hub par excellence in Africa.
According to the Minister of ICT, these initiatives have enabled Tanzania to rank among the top digital performers in Africa. Among other things, the country ranks 23rd worldwide on the World Bank's GovTech 2022 Maturity Index (GTMI).
Samira Njoya
