Expanding SA’s digital infrastructure is “one of the primary engines of economic growth [while] the development of information technology is key to the competitiveness of our economy”, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.
Ramaphosa made the comments after he officially opened telecom giant Huawei’s new innovation centre at its campus in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
“Digital innovation is inextricably linked to a nation’s development,” said the president, who was accompanied by small business development minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and deputy police minister Cassel Mathale.
“Not only can new digital technologies such as AI, big data and machine learning provide a platform for economic growth, job creation and self-employment, they can also vastly improve government service delivery,” he said.
He praised Huawei’s launch last year of the first 5G coal mine in the country and said the innovation centre is a “signal of Huawei’s confidence in the South African economy and its potential”.
Ramaphosa said the digital technology and business services sectors were “key pillars of SA’s investment strategy”.
The country “has a robust and sophisticated ICT sector with expertise” in data centres, cloud computing and storage, and wireless and fibre infrastructure.
The sector’s revenue increased by about R25.5bn over a five-year period, he said, according to the 2023 State of the ICT Sector in SA report, published by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa).
“This makes the ICT sector one of our most attractive industries for investment, with substantial growth potential.”
Ramaphosa was hosted by Huawei Southern Africa president Leo Chen, while the event was also attended by the Chinese ambassador Chen Xiaodong.
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