TECHNOLOGY and Science Permanent Secretary Brilliant Habeenzu has called for sustained investment in knowledge, innovation, digital infrastructure and human capital to drive economic growth.
Speaking through Director of Technology and Science Dr Larry Mweetwa at the Africa Tech Expo in Lusaka, Dr Habeenzu said emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), were already transforming the global economy.
He said recent studies suggest that AI could contribute up to 4.9 percentage points to Africa’s economic growth, while generating productivity gains estimated at one trillion US dollars by 2035.
Dr Habeenzu said Africa could not afford to remain a passive consumer of technology but needed to play an active role in developing and adopting solutions that address the continent’s challenges.
Meanwhile, Acting United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative Laurent Rudasingwa said Zambia needed to develop technologies that support the country’s national development agenda.
And Tech Trends Zambia Chief Executive Officer Sandi Chimpala said the Africa Tech Expo had brought together key stakeholders to explore how innovation and emerging technologies could support infrastructure development and create opportunities across Africa.
The Africa Tech Expo is being held under the theme, “Innovation, Infrastructure and Africa’s Next Economy.”
