Somalia’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Technology (MPTT) has announced that the National ICT Policy and Strategy has been approved by the Cabinet. The five-year policy provides the framework needed to leverage the benefits of ICT to support the social and economic development of the country. It outlines the development and enhancement of ICT across Somalia over the period 2019-2024 and aims to promote transformation, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation and partnerships in the mainstream economy, while recommending institutional and regulatory frameworks in order to achieve its intended goals.
Earlier this year, stakeholders were given until 31 May 2019 to submit feedback on the guidelines, which were formulated with support from the ITU and the World Bank.
Commenting on the matter, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Technology Abdi Ashur Hassan said: ‘We have a communications law, a regulator and an ICT Policy and Strategy … that means the sector now has the legal and policy frameworks that would allow it to develop further and attract more investment.’