Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Davidson Ishmael is hoping the Digital Summit being held here will help the government refine its digital strategies for a modern public sector.
Stating that Barbados was making steady progress along its digital transformation journey, he added that it was operating in an environment where there were rapidly occurring technological advancements. Ishmael said he hoped the Summit would provide “significant insights which will assist Barbados with the development of its digital workforce”.
The aim of the Digital Summit and ICT Week 2023 is to promote ICT development, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration between various stakeholders in the Caribbean and internationally.
“There are several other elements of digital transformation that will be discussed which will, no doubt, be of immense value to us as a ministry and government. Some of these include but are not limited to, the Digital ID – the essential building block; creating and transforming interdepartmental services; and escaping the legacy trap,” he stated.
The minister further noted that Barbados continues to face an increasingly competitive global environment which demands that the government encourages and promotes, through digital transformation, the introduction of new and/or improved products and services for its people, while boosting exports of locally produced goods and services.
He said this was necessary to improve both the country’s socio-economic development and its foreign exchange earnings.
“This is why we must embrace change while being cognisant of the fact that the effective use of technology is a principal enabler of such. We must continue to embrace ICT, as it is playing, and will continue to play, a pivotal role in how we live, work, and interact with each other,” said Ishmael.
He underscored the need for inclusion in Barbados’ digital transformation journey and highlighted the Digital Barbados Youth Forum, where young people will get the opportunity to contribute their ideas, insights, and perspectives to help shape the digital future of our country, as well as the ICT workshops for persons with disabilities, which will seek to show how ICTs can make the lives of these persons more rewarding. Both events will be held on Friday, as part of ICT Week.
The Youth Forum will take place at the 3Ws Oval at the University of the West Indies, while the workshops will be held at the Derrick Smith School & Vocational Centre.
“It is important that policymakers, technocrats, and service providers continue to engage stakeholders, such as persons living with disabilities and the youth, to ensure that the delivery of services and products is always citizen-centric. Thus, I want to once again reiterate my satisfaction with the staging of the workshops for the youth and persons living with disabilities in this year’s conference.
“It is clear that our Government has people at the centre of its planning, and with its all-embracing approach, the youth and people living with disabilities will never be left out. Colleagues, I need not remind you that one of the most undeniable lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic was that ICTs are extremely important as a means of ensuring continuous communication, the conduct of business, learning, and the delivery of services to all citizens,” Ishmael stated.
He said he hoped that “many actionable recommendations will come out of this Caribbean Digital Summit and ICT Week 2023, which will help to further advance the digital transformation process in each of the nations represented and participating”.
(BGIS)
