The government is exploring ways to leverage on ICT to enhance the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through e-commerce.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said efforts were being made to grow SMEs in the country through utilisation of ICT devices and innovations. This, he said, will help realise the SMEs potential in the economic growth of the country.
Mr Mucheru said the government was also contemplating on maximising new and emerging technologies such as over the top (OTT) and the Internet of Things – the internetworking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items – embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity to enable them collect and exchange data, to escalate growth of SMEs.
He was speaking during a press briefing, after a meeting with Secretary General of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Mr Hauli Zhao on Tuesday.
The ITU Secretary General lauded Kenya’s ICT environment, saying the country has one of the most progressive and aggressive ICT ecosystems in the world.
Mr Zhao said Kenya has achieved a lot in the ICT industry – leading to the development of e-commerce, e-finance among others.
He said ITU is lobbying governments and private sectors players to invest in ICT and have the rural and marginalised areas connected to internet. He regretted that half the world population was unconnected and deploy ICT to the SME sector to stimulate growth.
