The digital economy: Opportunities abound, initiatives lacking 

Digitalisation has transformed many sectors of the economy, opening up new avenues for job seekers and entrepreneurs. However, despite the existence of massive opportunities, the information and communication technology sector is still far from its real potential. 

Algiers hosted an African conference on Internet Governance, in mid-February, on the initiative of the Algerian Ministry of Post and Information and Communication Technologies (MPTIC), in partnership with The African Development Bank (AfDB). 

The conference saw the participation of African ministers in charge of information and communication technologies, representatives of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the African Union (AU), as well as experts in the field of information and communication technologies and the governance of the Internet. Mauritius was represented by the Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Yogida Sawmynaden.   

The event aimed to bring the perspectives of African countries closer together and to unify their positions in relation to the issue of Internet governance so that Africa appropriates use of the Adapted Internet to its needs and to its realities. The uses of Information Technology and its impact on African nations in social, cultural, economic and political field were also at the fore of debates. 

Mauritius is indeed considered as an example to follow in this part of the Indian Ocean, especially in technological advancement. Our expertise is regularly sought by our African neighbours in various fields, including the ICT sector. The country is currently fully poised to embark on the digital dream, with various e-projects in the pipeline. Information Technology has penetrated almost all sectors of the economy such that the country often needs to rely on foreign labour, given our skills shortage in certain fields. 

Opportunities abound in the ICT sector, where projects requiring small investment amounts can generate high levels of employment. Unfortunately, many such projects are undermined because they have negligible FDI values. On the other hand, there are not enough incentives to really boost the ICT sector. 

Innovation

Innovation remains the linchpin of the sector. The government has voted a sum of Rs 150 million to promote innovation during the present financial year. In the same vein, the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) has seen its budget increased from Rs 33 million to Rs 87 million. The MRC has received more than 130 proposals following an expression of interest for funding of innovative research projects, which is an encouraging sign. 

Figures 

• GDP contribution: 5.5% (2016)
• Direct employment: 23,000 (2016)
• Number of ICT companies: 750 (2016)
• Value of export of services: Rs 5.5 billion 

Opportunities

The Mauritius Vision 2030 relies a lot on the digital economy and lays much emphasis on innovation, creativity, sustainable development and high value addition. The country aims to see emerging ‘technopreneurs’ through ICT incubators. The BPO sector is opening new horizons and includes financial services and legal services while multimedia and apps development is a major trend. The e-licensing platform is another major project in the pipeline, partly financed by the European Union to the tune of Rs 270 million. 

Karishma Gungadeen-Bhuruth: “ICT powers all sectors”

Karishma Gungadeen-Bhuruth, an IT professional, explains that many people have the wrong notion that ICT in Mauritius concerns only the ICT/BPO sector at Ebene and enterprises engaged in ICT activities. “In fact ICT is today a tool for any sector of the economy. If we look around, we see ICT powering trading activities, through e-commerce or others, including online payments. IN the transport sector, freight and logistics are managed by advanced IT programs. Banks and insurances, as well as other financial facilities, rely heavily on ICT to exist. Nowadays, even agriculture is going hi-tech through the use of technology that manages cultivation and maintaining optimum environmental requirements, etc. Even in your job, a journalist is now more a multimedia operator than a mere writer. This is to say how digitalization of the economy is forcing everyone to be IT literate. This is the general trend and nobody should be left out.”

Parveen Peerye, Software Engineer: “A sector with unlimited opportunities”

A passionate of ICT, she evolves in the world of software, programming and information systems. Parveen Peerye tells us that though the sector is booming, we are yet to reach cruising speed. “ICT is not just about call centres, BPO operations, e-commerce or database management. We are still at the dawn of technological spread. We have surely come a long way since the advent of ICT in the early 2000s, but I think the time is now ripe for a full digitalization of the economy. Indeed, we are already talking of e-judiciary, e-government, e-filing, e-health, etc. The digital economy will help solve many pressing issues like traffic congestion and administrative hurdles. The sector sees some jobs becoming obsolete while creating new jobs.”

Parveen Peerye explains that professionals in the field have to undergo continuous learning process as technology keeps evolving and it is necessary for students, entrepreneurs, business persons as well as policymakers to keep abreast of latest developments in the field. “Through research, we can generate innovative ideas for entrepreneurial ventures, thus creating jobs and other business opportunities. The sector is fast becoming an important economic pillar, with major spillover effects on other sectors.” She explains that, behind the conception of applications or software, and the development of networks lies a plethora of job activities.

“Today we have cloud computing, big data, mobile internet, apps. Green IT and cyber-security. Each field is a discipline on its own. If we take each segment, we find that each has wide potential for growth. However, it is important for the nation to become IT literate and for further penetration of technology and internet facilities. Access to fast internet is the major stumbling block for progress, though we are now getting there gradually.” She adds that our youth should begin to explore the opportunities in ICT in the region, with countries like Gabon and Ghana opening up and expanding their technological infrastructure. Parveen Peerye concludes that she expects some robust and innovative measures in the forthcoming budget to boost the sector.”