Minister Namalomba at ICTAM 20th Anniversary celebration and AGM
* To move beyond consuming imported technologies and develop innovative digital products and services that can generate foreign exchange for the country
* Malawi’s IT sector has the potential to become a major export industry through software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other technology-enabled services
By Bishop Witmos, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
Minister of Information & Communications Technology, Shadric Namalomba has challenged Malawi’s information technology (IT) professionals to move beyond consuming imported technologies and develop innovative digital products and services that can generate foreign exchange for the country.
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Namalomba emphasised this when he presided over 20th anniversary celebrations and annual general meeting of the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) in Mangochi on Friday, saying the sector has the potential to become a major export industry through software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other technology-enabled services.
He highlighted government efforts to create an enabling environment, including a US$150 million World Bank-funded project that has facilitated internet connectivity for over 2,000 schools and 500 public institutions, as well as the formulation of the National AI Policy in line with MW2063 national vision.
The event was also ICTAM’s annual general and outgoing president Clarence Gama echoed the Minister’s sentiments, saying Malawi has talented IT professionals capable of contributing to economic growth through technological innovation.
On his part, newly-elected president, Exile Njoka expressed optimism that the IT sector will help in generating significant foreign exchange earnings to support the country’s economy within the next three years.
Njoka said Malawi currently spends substantial amounts of foreign currency on innovations and IT-related products, adding the country’s efforts to promote local innovation would help in reducing the amount spent on importing such products.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) was the main sponsor of the event and head of digital channels & payments, Enala Catherine Chirwa, said the bank is looking for innovations that can provide solutions to the country’s foreign exchange shortage, create employment opportunities and demonstrate the potential to compete in the business market.
Several experts were honoured with various award and the overall winners in the Financial Technology (FinTech) category have been awarded fully sponsored trips by National Bank, to attend the Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa) 2027 conference, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.—Additional reporting by Aisha Silver, Radio Islam; editing by Duncan Mlanjira; Maravi Express
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