Government to invest in telco infrastructure to woo investors- Telecom Minister

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Eng. Abdi Ashur Hassan addressing the ongoing World Telecommunication for Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: courtesy

The government will invest in infrastructure development in the telecommunication sector to create a favourable environment for investors and boost domestic revenue, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Eng. Abdi Ashur Hassan has said.

Addressing participants in the ongoing World Telecommunication for Conference under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Eng. Hassan said the government was now better placed to put resources into the telecommunication sector, thanks to the passage of the Telecommunication Law last month.

Eng. Hassan noted the sector is currently largely supported by the private sector with. “Somalia’s telecom industry is currently driven by the business sector with no tangible contribution by the government in terms of building infrastructure that would add value to their operations and increase government revenues,” the minister said.

“We want to fill that gap and help investors to move to the next level so that government can generate more taxes from the sector.”

Following the passage of the Telecommunication Law, Somalia aims to generate up to $100 million annually in form of taxes from the telecommunications industry, a much needed income to boost the country’s domestic revenue.

VOTING RIGHTS

This year’s conference is historic for Somalia as it regained full voting rights after the Ministry started paying its dues which have accrued since the last amount was submitted in 1983. The step, the minister said was significant as it also paves the way for full partnership with ITU in the development of Somalia’s ICT sector.

Under the theme- ICT for Sustainable Development Goals, this year’s conference focuses on the future of the telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) sector and its contribution to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The theme of WTDC-17 is very timely because now more than ever, we need ICTs to drive development and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs’ vision to leave no one behind,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. “At WTDC-17, we will review our results and accomplishments and define our way forward with new and innovative ways of meeting our objectives and accelerating social and economic development.”