Prepared by: Helene VoslooHead: Economics and Sector Research

“STIMULATING THE NAMIBIAN DIGITAL ECONOMY”

The Namibian Economy

Is a: – Network,

– Goods and services that are freely produced,

– Goods and services are exchanged = demand and supply,

– Via cash or credit

The Economic Cycle FARM

BUTCHER – JOBS

AUCTION

RESTAURANT SERVICE

The Namibian “DIGITAL” Economy

… is based on:

-ICT infrastructure

-to allow new opportunities/challenges

-for business and government.

The Namibian “DIGITAL” Economy FARM

BUTCHER – JOBS

AUCTION

RESTAURANT SERVICE

“DIGITAL” Economy…based on ICT Infrastructure

“DIGITAL” Economy…based on ICT Infrastructure

Contribution to Namibian GDP

ICT is an ENABLER!

ICT is a catalyst!

ICT is the foundation!

Contribution to Namibian GDP

• ICT continues to add significantly to economic development specifically development to Namibian economy

ICT Contribution to Namibian GDP

2007: 2.9% = N$1833m

2008: 2.9% = N$ 1883m

NAMIBIAN ECONOMY (mining, fishing, tourism, agriculture etc.)

Research ICT Africa, 2010

ICT Contribution to Other Economies

• Mauritius 6.7%• Ghana 1.8%• Nigeria 3.5%• South Africa 10%

– new opportunities/challenges business and government?

- LOCAL AND RELEVANT CONTENT- HIGHER SPEED- NEW INFRASTRUCTURE- HUMAN RESOURCES- ICT SKILLS- INNOVATE – NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES- CAPEX FUNDING - NEW POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS

“DIGITAL” Economy…based on ICT Infrastructure

• New opportunities for innovation?• Future daily use of ICT’s in Namibia to be

stimulated?- Local and relevant content - Knowledge creation - Develop software and applications – games,

Internet banking, Internet websites, anti-virus programs, etc.

“DIGITAL” Economy…based on ICT Infrastructure

Current Daily use of ICT’s in Namibia?

Future Daily use of ICT’s in Namibia to be stimulated?

Namibian Born Herman Heunis

Opportunities for Innovation?

DTT: Opportunity for Innovation?

– Does Namibia have the above in place?

– How is Namibia ranked internationally w.r.t. the digital economy?

“DIGITAL” Economy…based on ICT Infrastructure

Namiba’s Ranking by the Global Competitiveness Report

• Namibia was ranked by 2 recent reports on the ICT sector:– The Global Competitiveness Report– The Global Information Technology Report

• The Global Competitiveness Report measured Namibia i.t.o. technological Readiness.

• Namibia was ranked 99th out of 142 countries.

• Technological Readiness:

– the speed to adopt existing technologies,– to enhance the productivity of industries,– with specific emphasis on its capacity to fully

utilise ICT for innovation,– in daily activities and production processes,– for increased efficiency and competitiveness.

Namiba’s Ranking by the Global Competitiveness Report

Namibia’s Ranking by the Global Information Technology Report

• The Global Information Technology Report ranks countries according to an index called Networked Readiness.

• It is developed from 10 pillars constituting several indices.

• Namibia ranks 105th out of 142 countries.

Networked Readiness Index 2012

PILLAR 1: Political and Regulatory Environment

PILLAR 2: Business and Innovation Environment

PILLAR 3: Infrastructure and Digital Content

PILLAR 3: Infrastructure and Digital Content

PILLAR 4: Affordability

Some Current Namibian Statistics Namibia 3rd Cheapest In Africa in March 2012

PILLAR 5: Skills

PILLAR 6: Individual Usage

PILLAR 7: Business Usage

PILLAR 8: Government Usage

PILLAR 8: Government Usage

PILLAR 9: Economic Impacts

PILLAR 10: Social Impacts

Social and Economic Impact – MDG 2015

• E-Job creation – reduce poverty • E-skills training and development– Primary ICT Education

• E-health• Gender Economic Empowerment

•

Social and Economic Impact

• Targets:– Growing industrial sector

– Modernised agricultural sector

– Educated and Healthy people

Social and Economic Impact

• How:– Modern ICT Infrastructure

• Amend VISON 2030 to address the knowledge-based economy

Social and Economic Impact

– ICT Infrastructure development“Modern, reliable infrastructure is critical for high and sustained economic growth. Without such infrastructure, almost everything in the economic value chain tends to be slower, less reliable, and more expensive than necessary. ”

Social and Economic Impact

• NDP4– High and sustained economic growth– Increased income equality– Employment creation

Social and Economic Impact

• NDP4– Identify and Deploy strategically identified ICT

Projects, Software and Applications Development for targeted interventions in strategic economic sectors, by partnering between the USF and NPC :• Logistics• Tourism• Manufacturing• Agriculture

Conclusion

ICT Ecosystem

It starts with the citizen!

The citizens aspirations and hope for a decent quality of living!

Namibian ICT Ecosystem

1

Finally…

• LETS START THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION:– ON DEVELOPING A NAMIBIAN ICT ECOSYSTEM

ROADMAP

– THAT IS BASED ON THE DIGITAL ECONOMY…

Discussions have started between…

Thank you!