Microsoft East and Southern Africa General Manager, Louis Otieno, has hailed the E-Government strategy, saying it is a well constructed strategy and reflects well on the aims of Maitlamo.
“The Implementation of e-government will create even more opportunities for Microsoft and its local citizen partners in Botswana,” said Otieno. “By diversifying the economy away from reliance on raw mineral production, there should be real opportunities to close the GAP between the country and the developed world,” he said, adding that in certain instances the government and Private Sectors have, in fact, already closed the Gap and are at the cutting edge of Technological innovations.
Otieno said the e-gov strategy will pave the way for a lot of skills, innovation and opportunities in Botswana for Batswana.
He said the rapid consumption of technology is fundamentally changing the way the business procure and use IT and an accelerated implementation of e-gov and absorption of modern ICT best practices and standards can have a huge impact on the quality of life for Batswana.
Otieno, however, urged Botswana to work with partners, local and international, to assist in the e-government strategy as it will have a beneficial impact on the country.
“The key to success is finding the combination of multi-national Partners with proven skills, financial might, and the organizational ability with local partners, with skills and knowledge of the local market will realize the necessary benefits,” he said.
Last week, Microsoft made a hefty software donation worth P4, 402.515 to BOCONGO, BTC and Botswana Post.
Speaking during the donation ceremony, Otieno said that “technology remains a powerful tool that can help people, communities and nations realize their potential”.
He added that Microsoft’s objective for the donation is, therefore, to advance local IT skills and provide innovative solutions that will help to solve some of the social and economic challenges in rural Botswana by providing employment and improving community access to information.
He revealed that Microsoft is already working on a number of Projects with Education sector, Government and with the Botswana Innovation Hub, aiming at assisting the people of Botswana and creating opportunities for their partners.
“Microsoft partnerships with Government and other institutions will continue to flourish and Botswana will always be a favourable environment for Microsoft in both the Public and Private Sectors,” he said.
