Mbarawa: Tanzania’s GDP can grow with more investment in the ICT sector

By Geoffrey Nangai

TANZANIA’S Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can grow between two and three percent in the next few years if priority is given to developing the country’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology Professor Makame Mbarawa said.

He was speaking during a tour at the Techno Brain Tanzania, a company that has embarked on providing integrated business, technology, and process solutions as well as results-driven training not only in Tanzania but other parts of Africa.

Techo Brain has embarked on a compass recruitment programnme within the country that seeks to train fresh graduates in various managerial duties   within the ICT sector for up to two years.

Mbarawa said the country’s future in the communication sector looks positive with the with the construction of a broadband backbone almost all the major urban areas of Tanzania adding that the project will by next year have connected up to 10,000 kilometers.

“We as Government have invested in a project to spearhead the necessary infrastructure. We have to date connected 19 regions and 57 districts.  It is our hope that the rest of the country will be connected come March next year,” he stressed.

Mbarawa said that will the completion of the project, there is need to embark on a last-mile connectivity programme that will ensure that different end-users take advantage of the initiative but with strict emphasis on local content.

“Language is still a barrier. Many Tanzania do not know English. If we can have some ICT modules can be translated into Kiswahili, then the better. With companies like Techno Brain partnering with us in this venture, the dream can be attainable,” he said.

He noted Government will embark on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in ensuring production of local ICT content that will be done with consultation with all stake holders.

Earlier the Techno Brain Tanzania Limited Corporate Business Manager James Mungai   said his company has already worked with various Government agencies that include National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Immigration Department during the development of various security features used by agencies.

“There is need for the Government to put in place a system of national disaster recovery that we can offer. If there are gaps in coming up with this, we can sit down as partners to see how we can fill these gap,” he said.

The company’s Training Manager Agnes Munisi during the event said her company will have trained 2000 fresh graduates in six of its training centers in Africa come 2015.