The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon Lamin Jabbi Esq has echoed the need for developing countries to adopt AI in high-impact areas in order to maximize its benefits. He stressed that AI should serve as a tool to bridge the digital divide, not widen it.
Hon Jabbi was speaking on the need to empower new industrial revolution through Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a recent BRICS Forum on Partnership for the New Industrial Revolution in Xiamen, China. He attended at the invitation of the Chinese Government.
The Gambia is among 19 countries selected to join the Initiative for International Cooperation on New Industrialization, aimed at fostering collaboration with BRICS and other partners on a number of digital cooperation initiatives.
On the sidelines of the forum, Hon Minister Jabbi held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, HE LI Lecheng, Minister of Industry and Information Technology. The two Ministers discussed the strong bilateral relations enjoyed by both countries in recent years, and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate in areas such as infrastructure development, skills and capacity training, cybersecurity, and AI.
The key specific issues discussed in the course of the Bilateral Meeting include the need for international connectivity for The Gambia and some other sister neighbouring countries, putting up an efficient and sustainable National Data centre, building a fully integrated Digital Government Platform, identifying special required Digital Skills for capacity Building and the possibility of having an ICT Equipment and manufacturing facility in The Gambia.
Interventions on Fintech and Digital payments development, Cyber Security and Data Protection and the building of a Tech Park and Innovation Centres in The Gambia were also considered in the course of the Bilateral Meeting.
The two Ministers agreed to identify focal points that will serve as a dedicated team for putting into action the issues within the full consideration of the parties.
