TVET expo showcases new technologies

Members of the Private Sector have been asked to work closely with the government in promoting Information Technology Communication in the country.The call was made yesterday by Didier Nkurikiyimfura, the Director General in charge of ICT in the Ministry of Youth and ICT during the opening of the a one-day ICT expo at Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) in Kicukiro District.The Exhibition was organized by Korea International Cooperation (KOICA) in partnership IPRC centre.“To have a very strong economy it must be a private-led one and it’s in this regard that I call upon the private sector to take the lead in as far as promoting the ICT sector is concerned in this country because this will help us to achieve sustainable development in all aspects of life” Nkurikiyimfura. He said that his ministry has come up with many programmes that are aimed at improving the ICT sector in the country especially through equipping the youth with the relevant skills and knowledge which will contribute to development of ICT and job creation in the country.Kim Sang Chul, the Resident Representative, KOICA Rwanda said: “There is no doubt that ICT is the key to knowledge sharing and access to information and it’s in this regard that KOICA through its volunteers organized this ICT expo to continue sensitizing the population about the importance of ICT in any country’s development”.H e said that improving Rwanda’s information communication technologies is a precondition for improving its productive industrial capacity and for Africa in general.“We believe that strategic investment in the ICT sector will allow Rwanda to increasingly play an important role in the development of new applications and technological innovations that are relevant for the needs of African continent and that will ensure a continued multiplier effect on economic growth” Kim said.He said that KOICA in partnership with the Ministry of Education will continuously play a leading role in the production and development of ICT strategies that are timely, accurate and vital in helping Rwanda achieve its vision 2020.James Ndayambaje, a student at IPRC Kicukiro said: “This event is so important for us as ICT students in the country because it will inspire us in developing new ideas and innovations in the fields of ICT which will address the this challenges the country is still facing”.The government of South Korean through KOICA has supported the promotion of ICT in the country through funding various ICT projects like the construction of the Faculty of ICT at the National University of Rwanda, buying ICT equipments for over five Integrated Polytechnic Region Centres around the country.KOICA is also working with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to set up an ICT innovation centre where science students will be taught how to be creative and innovative in their respective ICT studies.