Georgetown: Guyana’s development hinges on the pillar of technology, which is one of the drivers of the ‘Green State Development Strategy’ (GSDS), which when adopted, will become the national development blueprint for a “green, inclusive and prosperous Guyana.”
This is according to Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who was addressing the gathering at Saturday’s launching of the GTT inaugural Innov8 Summit at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.
All industries can benefit in a number of ways from the use of technology said, Minister Gaskin. “The use of modern digital technology is pivotal to economic activity in today’s competitive world. It can reduce operating costs, increase production, enhance security, improve decision making through data collection and analysis. It can be used in marketing, for sales, in transportation and in construction and of course in telecommunications,” he noted.
The Business Minister expounded on the ‘smart’ concept and the need for smart people to produce and develop these ‘smart’ products and systems. Undoubtedly, the Minister said there is no shortage of knowledgeable people in Guyana; however, he highlighted the need for them to be educated on the new technologies, which fora such as Innov8 offers.
He noted that, “they can benefit from the sharing of ideas and experiences…so this event is great, it is timely because now is the time for us to innovate and to explore technology-based solutions to many of the challenges we face as a nation.”
Minister Gaskin believes that those who look to the future and invest time in learning or developing systems will be the ones best positioned for the benefits that lie ahead.
Further, the Minister said the GSDS 2030 vision of becoming a fully ‘green state’ will not be automatically achieved but requires a course of action which is majorly dependent on the inclusion of technology.
Chief Executive Officer, GTT, Justin Nedd underscored that the telecommunications network is “not about empty talk” but is serious about showcasing the experts in technology, inspiring the nation’s youth and creating opportunities for them to channel their creativity.
He challenged participants, specifically the youths to “look, learn, ask questions and be a part of innovation” over the next few days of the summit.
Nedd added that, “Guyana is a beautiful place and we are on the verge of something big. Everybody talks about oil and gas and what it will do but ultimately it is up to us and our children and our children’s children to really make a difference. This is really about getting the children involved, opening their minds and giving them a place that they can form thoughts of their own.”
The event featured cosplay, gaming and robotics and saw the participation of several companies and organisations including STEM Guyana, Gizmos and Gadgets, the University of Guyana, among many others.
First Lady, Sandra Granger, who plays an incremental role in pushing the establishment of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana robotics clubs throughout Guyana, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Marcel Hutson and officials of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Commission were present at the Summit’s opening.
An $18 million innovative fund was established by GTT and will be pumped into the STEM programme locally, and the University of Guyana.
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