The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) must prioritise artificial intelligence (AI) investments in sectors capable of driving regional development, says Dr Shadric Namalomba, minister of information and communications technology in Malawi.
Namalomba addressed delegates at the regional COMESA engagement on harnessing AI and emerging technologies under the Inclusive digitalisation for Eastern and Southern Africa programme in Lilongwe.
Key sectors targeted for AI adoption include agriculture, healthcare, climate resilience, education, financial services, public delivery, and regional trade.
Building the foundation for this transformation requires targeted investments in connectivity, digital infrastructure, data quality, skills development, and cybersecurity policy, said Namalomba.
He also called for frameworks that foster digital inclusion for rural communities, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The minister said regional stakeholders must shift from consuming foreign AI technologies to developing homegrown solutions tailored to local needs.
The four-day workshop brings together government officials, COMESA Secretariat representatives, and technical consultants to assess infrastructure gaps, regulatory challenges, and data protection needs across member states.
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