BUSINESS BREAKFAST MEETING WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER

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PRESENTATION BY H.E. THE RIGHT HON. PRIME
MINISTER DURING THE LAUNCH OF ICT POLICY AND EXPO
A.T. DLAMINI (MP) HELD AT THE CONVENTION
CENTRE 3RD AUGUST, 2007
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE.

• Introduction
• Some of the objectives of the Information and
  Communication Technology (ICT) policy.
• Development of ICT in the country.
• The role of ICT in the economic development.
• Governments efforts to create an ICT conducive
  environment.

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Outline continued

• What are the benefits of ICT to the populace
• conclusion

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INTRODUCTION

• I wish to congratulate and thank everyone who has
  been involved in the drafting of the ICT Policy
  we are launching here today.
• Our special thanks also go to the United Nations
  Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) for all
  the technical support they have given to us
  during the drafting process.

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INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

• His Majestys Government is committed to work
  with all stakeholders in the implementation of
  the ICT Policy.
• Government is aware of the great milestone that
  we can achieve through ICT.

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INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

• May I also thank the Private sector for joining
  us for this great event and I believe they will
  continue to partner with us in the development of
  ICT in the country.
• His Majestys Government is cognizant of the fact
  that the dynamics of the 21st century dictates
  that ICT becomes the vehicle for development in
  all sectors of our society.

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SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY.

• The Policy will address some of the following
• Increase national consciousness about the role
  and potential of ICTs for the sustainable
  development of the Kingdom

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SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY CONTINUED.

• Facilitate the development and implementation of
  the necessary legal, institutional and regulatory
  framework and structures to support the
  deployment, utilization and development of ICTs
• Create a conducive/ enabling environment for
  co-operation and partnership in ICTs, between the
  public and private sectors, and all interested
  stakeholders at the national, regional and
  international levels and create a favourable
  climate for investment in the ICT sector and to
  identify innovative financing mechanisms that
  address specific needs for ICT development

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SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY CONTINUED.

• Facilitate Swazilands integration and
  participation in the local and global economy and
  in the global Information Society.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT

• His Majestys Government has made some
  initiatives in developing ICT in order to enhance
  Government business.
• Some of the ICT initiatives includes the
  following
• (a) Tertiary institutions have been encouraged
  to include ICT in their curriculum.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• (b) The Ministry of education is currently
  running an Information Technology (IT) programme
  in some schools and Government is keen to see
  every child getting access to IT.
• (C) All Government Ministries have access to IT
  and I wish to encourage the Ministry of Public
  Service and Information to train Civil Servants
  in IT.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• (d) The Computer Department has networked a
  number of Government Ministries and Departments.
  I hope this will soon cover all Ministries and
  Departments, including Regional Offices, so that
  everyone has access to IT facilities in the
  spirit of Government Decentralization drive
• Government has established a Website. I urge all
  Government Ministries and Departments to use the
  facility.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• Government Ministries and Departments need to
  appreciate the significance the Websites can play
  in providing information to the citizens.
• His Majestys Government recognizes that ITC is a
  priority sector which has the potential to
  contribute to the long-term economic development
  of the country.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• I am aware that through ICT we can improve
  efficiency in the service delivery in Government
  and also save a lot of resources by cutting down
  the paper work.
• The Computer Department has a challenge to make
  sure that Government information can be
  transmitted safely through the network.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• We need to develop the culture of providing
  service to the people through the network and
  these facilities should be accessed by everyone
  in the country.
• For an example the citizens should be able to
  apply for their travel documents through the net
  and only go to the Ministry to collect the
  passport.

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DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

• The citizens should be able get all important
  information from our Government Website.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ICT

• Reduction in waiting time to respond to citizens
• Reduction in traveling costs
• Faster decision making
• On line demands and delivery of services to the
  citizens
• Empowerment of citizens
• Improved governance
• Can be used to fight corruption, especially in
  procurement, stock control, re-order levels
• CCV cameras can also enhance security

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CHALLENGES FOR CONDUCIVE ICT ENVIRONMENT IN THE
COUNTRY

• His Majestys Government recognizes that access
  to information and creation of knowledge
  contributes significantly to strengthening
  economic, social and cultural development, thus
  helping in the attainment of the millennium
  development goals.
• Government strongly believes that in addition to
  the setting up ICT infrastructures, there is a
  need to develop human capacity so that all
  citizens are at the same wave length.

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CHALLENGES FOR CONDUCIVE ICT ENVIRONMENT IN THE
COUNTRY CONTINUED.

• Government is aware that ICTs are effective tools
  to promote peace, security and stability, to
  enhance social cohesion, good governance and the
  rule of law.
• ICTs can be used to promote economic growth and
  enterprise development.

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CHALLENGES FOR CONDUCIVE ICT ENVIRONMENT IN THE
COUNTRY CONTINUED.

• Through ICTs we can market our products as a
  country and I wish to encourage the private
  sector to use ICTs in this regard.
• His Majestys Government is committed to empower
  young people with all the appropriate skills in
  order to be able to effectively use ICTs.
• We therefore look forward to the development of a
  computer language that will be understood by all
  our citizens.

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CHALLENGES FOR CONDUCIVE ICT ENVIRONMENT IN THE
COUNTRY CONTINUED.

• It is important to note that through ICTs we can
  promote our culture and also preserve it for
  future generations.

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ICTS CAN BE USED TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

• Both Government and the Private sector can use
  ICTs to monitor general operations in their
  organization.
• Through ITCs you can monitor stock procurement
  information.

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ICTs CAN BE USED TO PROMOTE THE IMAGE OF THE
COUNTRY

• Information dissemination is crucial to the image
  building of the country because people create
  perceptions based on what they read and see in
  the internet.
• It is therefore crucial to effectively use the
  technology in order to disseminate the correct
  information about our country and our ethos as a
  society.

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CONCLUSION

• I therefore appeal to the private sector to work
  together with Government for the development of
  ICTs in the country.
• Let us promote ICTs to all sectors of our
  society.
• His Majestys Government is more than willing to
  listen to suggestions on how to facilitate the
  conditions necessary to develop ICTs.

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CONCLUSION CONTINUED.

• The Policy we are launching today addresses some
  of the key issues that are critical in
  development of the ICT sector in the country.
• The Policy is not only concerned with technology
  issues but does cover other aspects such as
  capacity building, legal and regulatory
  framework.
• Without ICTs we can not as a country compete
  locally, regionally and globally.

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CONCLUSION CONTINUED

• I also believe that we cannot effectively and
  efficiently sell our products locally, regionally
  and internationally if we fail to maximize the
  use of ICTs.
• His Majestys Government also believes that we
  cannot as a Government deliver services to the
  citizens efficiently and effectively without
  ICTs. It will be difficult to disseminate and
  exchange information about the development and
  social welfare issues.

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CONCLUSION CONTINUED

• I therefore invite each and every citizen young
  or old, Government officials, politicians and
  corporate entities to take ICT seriously and give
  it the priority it deserves by investing in the
  development of this global technology which is a
  vehicle for our development as a country.
• It is now my singular honour and priviledge to
  declare the ICT Policy officially launched.

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CONCLUSION CONTINUED.

• I thank you.
• PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE 03/08/07