Abdi Ashur Hassan, Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Technology, announces the forthcoming construction of Somalia’s first Technology Innovation Center (SONICE). The infrastructure will contribute to the establishment of an innovative digital ecosystem in the country. The resulting ICT products and services will provide a significant boost to the advent of the national digital economy.
The ICT Innovation Center will be located on the premises of the former telephone company of the former national telecom operator. Once the building is renovated, it will be equipped with the necessary facilities that will enable young people with innovative ideas and technological projects to obtain all the support they need to make concrete products. The minister also said that the government is committed to facilitating the creation of innovation poles in all federal states in order to transform the country into an information society and prepare citizens for a digital economy.
Somalia is now eager to acquire technological infrastructure because its regulatory framework already allows it. Over the past two years, with the assistance of the World Bank, the country has devoted itself to creating an adequate legal and policy framework for the ICT sector. “Once the law and policies are fully implemented, we hope that competition will encourage innovation that will create jobs for young people , ” said Minister Abdi Ashur Hassan.