On the China-Africa Forum, held on 29 November 2021 in Diamniadio, private and public sector actors worked on the issues and opportunities of digitalisation in economies. On this subject, the Managing Director of GAINDE 2000, Ibrahima Nour Eddine DIAGNE made a communication.
Ibrahima Nour Eddine Diagne took part in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, organized on the margins of the opening of the eighth ministerial conference of the Forum on Sino-African Cooperation (Focac). In a context of economic recovery, the actors, in their interventions, highlighted the imperative to focus on the digital economy in view of the potential it offers to States. «There are still great opportunities for Senegal in the digital economy. Where there are queues and administrative delays, it is because digitalization is not yet so developed», points out Ibrahima Nour Eddine Diagne.
This observation, he adds, shows that there is a need for digitisation. We have the impression that digitalisation kills jobs. But studies have shown the opposite. If we create the conditions for companies to perform, they will have more revenue and generate growth and make investments,” says Mr. Diagne. He calls for a program of synchronized modernization of both the State and the private sector.
During this panel, the telecom sector was called upon to play a central role in the digital transformation. As such, Sékou Dramé, General Director of Sonatel Senegal, maintains that in addition to the availability of connectivity, consideration should also be given to the development of skills, particularly those related to artificial intelligence, since 30% of trades are doomed to disappear. The President of Zte Corporation, Li Zixue, recalled the driving role that digital technology plays in China’s strong growth. We have over 400,000,000 5G users, already covering more than 20 industrial sectors, in addition to ports, mining industries,’ explained Mr Zixue. For his part, Minister Amadou Hott notes that this forum is an excellent opportunity to share the experiences and learn the best lessons from this crisis.
