The Speech of Hon. Ali Ibrahim Mohamed, Minister of National Planning & Coordination Delivered at the First Somaliland Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Consultative Workshop

Site: Mansoor Hotel , Hargeisa, Somaliland

Date : 5-7, 2007

H. E. Ahmed Yusuf Yassein, Vice President of Republic of Somaliland

H. E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, Speaker of the Parliament

Hon. Liban Duale Asseyr, Minister of Posts and Telecom

Mr. Paul Simking, UNDP, Deputy Governance Portfolio

Members of International Community,

Member of Somaliland ICT Stakeholders

Distinguish guests

1. It is an honor for me to address the first Somaliland ICT Policy Consultative workshop and to thank organizers, in general, and UNDP, in particular, for the technical and financial support to the workshop. My sincere gratitude also goes to you all, members of Somaliland ICT Stakeholders, to honoring our invitation. Today is great to day. It is the beginning of new era dedicated to the pooling of our joint efforts towards the improvement and support for the Somaliland ICT industries.

2. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has increasingly become an integral part of all socio-economic development efforts. It can provide learning opportunities, empower citizens, and improve efficiency in production business process and global flow of goods and services

3. No invention has ever influenced mankind as the computer has. In less than seven decades of its existence, it has managed to materialize the concept of a global village. ICT technologies offer a broad set of tools capable of addressing problems that are much harder or virtually impossible to solve using the more traditional techniques from statistics to operations research. Managing the development course of a country is a complex task and might require decision making on the basis of country’s past performance and present situation which might be available in the form of data. Today’s best technology to manage and process data is the Information and communication technology (ICT). Information technology implementation is one of the ways to fulfil and execute development in the appropriate manner and create momentum that will ultimately lead to development. ICT must be considered as an investment and not an expense. It requires vision and bold leadership, but it must be coupled with deep commitment to good governance, since without it could be detrimental to the freedom and well-being of the citizens. Globally, ICT and good governance are mutually interdependent and any failure in the adoption of good governance can only take place at the expense of development as a whole.

ICT trends and technology directions have brought in applications and solutions for socioeconomic development and have greatly contributed to good governance.

4. In the field of planning, ICT becomes a natural ally for planning development and provision of needed services to the citizens. Planning presupposes availability of information about country’s resources such as human, physical and financial resources. Database for all citizens is therefore fundamental to sound planning and delivery of social and utility services such as education, health, water, power, and infrastructure. In addition economic planning is inconceivable without ICT. Economic opportunities for employment supported by education planning can help reduce unemployment. The importance of ICT in all other sectors, such as business and finance, industry and service sectors cannot be underestimated.

5. In education, health and extension services, the internet helped development organizations reach the most remote areas. Educational material can be uploaded in the internet and finally downloaded in rural areas where they are most needed. The internet has become a useful virtual reference library that can be readily accessed and utilized by researchers, politicians and students from all parts of the globe. Distance learning has become an effective and cheap method of learning for millions of people worldwide.

Health education and creating awareness about health risks associated with particular behavioural patterns can easily be disseminated via internet. Awareness of HIV/Aids is a case in point. Agricultural extension and commodity price information through the internet can help accelerate technology transfer and better inform producers about input and commodity prices, enabling them better decision making in the optimal allocation of production resources and factors.

6. Moreover Poverty can be reduced through economic growth and equitable distribution of the benefits of growth to all, particularly to the less privileged who might be unable to participate in the process of economic growth. The great advances recently made in the field of IT have dramatically changed the shape of all economic activities and transactions.

7. Its application brings in many benefits to communities including the following:

1) Better dissemination of information about development activities, gaps, business and trade opportunities.

2. Better delivery of social services by enhancing information flow, transparency and accountability of the various levels of delivery agencies, including local governments.

3. Enhancement of operational efficiency and reach of credits especially in rural areas.

4. Improvement of operational efficiency and coverage of rural based non-governmental and community based organisations

5. Improvement and growth of people to people voice communication through greater access and lower prices.

8. Electronic mails which are much faster than conventional postal mail could be efficiently utilized by various stakeholders and development counterparts. In addition to speed, electronic mails are associated with significant cost reductions as photocopying and sending multiple faxes are no longer necessary.

Electronic mailing lists foster group discussion and the dissemination of published electronic newspapers that instantaneously reach its recipients. Individual development partners have the option of sharing available information and experience about their field of common interest with one another, thus pooling resource materials and avoiding duplication.

9. There is hardly anyone here, who is not, convinced that information and communication technologies are indispensable means of achieving successful coordination in all human interactions . They have the key importance for attracting and cumulating equity in all spheres of the national economy, in stimulating the development of activities with high added value, allowing businesses to grow nationally, ensuring that government services is accessible and transparent, and society is well informed. ICT is also a powerful catalyst in the partnership among representatives of the public and private sector s , civil society and academia .

10. The Government of Somaliland value s highly the role of new information and communication technologies. We firmly believe that ICT improves and makes our coordination more transparent. It also gives us the opportunity to continually enhance efficient Government management and, hence, achieve more easily and effectively the strategic aims of our leadership and partners in ensuring sustainable development and quick recovery of Somaliland economy .

11. May I now focus on the challenges in the sphere of Policy coordination, which Somaliland is facing in the process of its utilization of ICT for development during Policy initiation and implementation period.

12. Taking into consideration Somaliland’s unique situation characterized by a national economy based on low –tech and low value added pastoral production system, it could be stated, in my opinion, that some of the challenges facing the ICT industry include:

13. Therefore, in order to catch up with other comparable economies of the region and reap the benefits of globalization, Somaliland needs to embark on a new development strategy that recognizes the immense value of ICT for its national development. Such a strategy should aim at training and bringing its workforce to international working standards, and incooperate new technologies and management techniques into the existing development strategy.

14. May I therefore, suggest few ideas for your consideration with regard to the content and vision of the proposed ICT policy for Somaliland.

15. I would like to advise UNDP as partner and initiator of this long road to ensure the completion and implementation of the process by allocating sufficient resources both human and financial.

16. Finally, I would like to pay great homage to our business community and, in particular, to the pioneers of ICT industry in Somaliland, the telecommunication companies, for their historic achievements and progress in connecting most of our country to the world. Their patriotic role in re-building the ICT industry from scratch, after regaining our independence will always remain on a golden page in our history. Please keep it up that good name by encouraging further cooperation between your companies for the progress of the ICT industry and for delivering improved services to your clients that should be efficient and affordable.

17. In conclusion, I hope that the next three days deliberation and discussions will lead to sharing pragmatic ideas, highlighting innovative ways of creating good environment that is conducive for investment and maintain ICT industry stability in Somaliland. I also wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to re-engage all ICT stakeholders in policy-making process as well as continue consultations with the private sector. We, as Government, recognize the necessity of fostering people’s hope for a prosperous future. However, we are convinced that the best way of predicting a better future is to create it and make it happen!

I thank you for patience.

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