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At the LEAP summit in Shanghai, China, African telecom and ICT leaders urged governments across the continent to lower taxes on digital gadgets to reduce the digital divide and enhance efficiency in various sectors.
The summit, part of the Mobile World Congress held from June 24 to June 28, brought together key players to discuss digital advancements and strategies.
John Mo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union, called on tech companies to partner with governments to establish manufacturing plants in Africa. He emphasized that affordability is a major issue, especially in rural areas with low digital literacy. Mo highlighted that reducing taxes on digital gadgets and services would help bridge the access gap.
Mo also stressed the importance of empowering young people to use digital tools for their prosperity. He noted that Africa’s median youth age is 19, presenting significant potential for digital growth. He called for cooperation between governments and tech firms to unlock this potential.
Uganda’s ICT Undersecretary, Sophia Nantongo, echoed Mo’s sentiments, advocating for lower taxes on digital gadgets to make them more affordable for young people. She pointed out that over 90% of digital devices in Uganda are imported and heavily taxed, making access difficult. Nantongo also invited tech firms like Huawei to set up manufacturing plants in Uganda to support local digital infrastructure development.
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