The Co Chairperson, G20/T20 Africa Digital Economy Summit (AFRIDES), Mr Kelvin Jiraji, says digital transformation offers immense potential for job creation, innovation and competitiveness across sectors.
Jiraji said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, to unveil the forthcoming AFRIDES, which is scheduled to hold in October in Brazil.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the summit is “Digital transformation for sustainable growth: Africa’s Path to a Connected Future”.
Jiraji said that AFRIDES would accelerate the needed transformation by addressing key issues like infrastructure, regulation and investment.
“The gross expansion of the contours of technology and digital transformation has made it imperative to recognise theeco systemic dimensions of the value chain of digital economy.
“One of the priorities of theAFRIDES is tofoster robust engagements, leverage collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders, ” he said.
He said that there was the need for urgency on the part of stakeholders, to plug into the digital superstructure.
He listed the stakeholders to include heads of government, policymakers, FinTech providers, innovators, entrepreneurs, a broad range of stakeholders and key Industry players across the globe.
He said that the summit would provide a fertile ground to work towards maximising the potentials and sustainability of Africa’s vital digital economy infrastructures.
“The summit will develop and strengthen existing and new opportunities for networking, promote industry awareness, advocacy and provide support for public and private sector digital economy.
“It aligns with Africa’s institutional framework for achieving its digital economy policy, strategy and its implementation of the e-government master plan.
“The Summit is also particularly strategic forAfrica’s e-governance and its ecosystem.
“This is because digital economy resilience is the engine room for the implementation and articulation of economic and business policies and programmes, both in the public and private domains.
“It also, serve as the catalyst for building efficiencies and capabilities to deliver on critical aspects of economic transformation, development and national re-engineering,” Jiraji said.
He said that the AFRIDES was a strategic vision of the Group of 20 Industrialised Nations (G20).
According to him, the G20 recognises the significance of inclusive digital transformation on national and sub-national economies as catalysts for economic growth.
He said that it also appreciated the imperative of deepening synergy with critical stakeholders worldwide to advance and enhance inclusive digital transformation.
“That is why it has institutionalised this side event as a critical corollary of its agenda.
“The conveners are in agency consultations with some of the leading fintech and digital economy entrepreneurs who have specialised capabilities to develop a wide range of innovative options to achieve the desired solution outcomes.
“Also, the expectation of the summit is to enhance knowledge, leadership and management, regenerate investor confidence, boost capital growth, turnkey business startups and development,” he said.(NAN)
