The government has stressed on the importance of enhancing the country’s economic growth and social progress by encouraging beneficial ICT activities in all sectors.

Communication Science and Technology minister Prof Makame Mbarawa made the remark in Dar es Salaam at the weekend during the launching of Youth Information Communication Technology empowerment project to be implemented by Tanzania Youth Alliance (Tayoa).

He said the move could be implemented by promoting investments in the areas of capacity building and multi-layered co-operation as well as knowledge sharing at the local and global levels.

Mbarawa said the vision, as narrated in the National ICT Policy is for Tanzania to become a hub of ICT infrastructure and solutions that enhance sustainable socio-economic development and that accelerate poverty reduction both nationally and globally.

He reminded youths not to forget that ICT was basically a tool for uniting people and knowledge easily, reliably and cheaply.

For his part, Finish Ambassador to the country Juhani Joivonen said that Tanzania had the growing potential of using ICT for development more broadly, particularly in education sector, as envisioned in national and sectoral policies as well as strategies.

“It is noted in Vision 2025 that opportunities posed by ICT can be harnessed to meet the goals of the vision and the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP),” he said.

Making specific references to the vision, he noted that efficient communication tools through ICTs would empower people in the country to make better decisions, as a result better life would be achieved and poverty would be scaled down.

Joivonen further said that the second Millennium Development Goal focused on ensuring universal primary education by 2012. “Tanzania has made great milestones in achieving these goals and even moved more vigorously in laying the foundation for universal secondary education,” said the envoy.

He called upon Tayoa and other stakeholders to move forward in developing local contents, particularly addressing issues stalling development of science and language subjects.

Tayoa country director Peter Masika said that a portal - vijanatz.com or vijanatz.co.tz - would contribute towards mitigating the challenges that young people in the country were facing.

“We are grateful for the opportunity we have with the advancement in information technology and the partnership from the government, private sector and development partners.” said Masika.

He said through the project, unemployed students and graduates would be empowered with profession-specific ICT and life skills for employability, and entrepreneurial skills that respond to the demands of the current economic situation.

He also informed that as part of the project, Tayoa had established ICT learning centres and multimedia laboratory in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro regions.

According to him, the project consists of two key programmatic components: employability or entrepreneurial training and the development of a web portal where youths could access free educational and other material.