As the province of KwaZulu-Natal, we are truly privileged to be hosting GovTech this year, and we take this opportunity to welcome all the delegates to this history making event.

The theme of GovTech 2023 is : "Platform Economy for Digital Transformation and Inclusive Growth", which directs our energies towards a common agenda, deploying the latest technologies to drive our national economy while leaving no one behind.

In 2014 the Global Competitiveness Report ranked South Africa 66th for ICT readiness and adoption, but this dropped to 89th by 2019. Our province is currently only 27% connected, and we have identified the need for more connectivity on an urgent basis. The critical areas of underdevelopment include innovation around information and communications technology systems, network connectivity, and more sustainable technologies. This limits the ability of businesses and the public sector to adopt the capacity needed to transition into the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and the green economy, and to bolster South Africa’s regional advantage.

As part of the KZN Digital Transformation Strategy, the province aims to deliver a citizen-centric plan which guides the leap to a digitally transformed society in our Province.

Through partnership with business, civil society and labour, KwaZulu-Natal is targeting the attainment of a meritocratic state with professional capabilities in ICT and modern business processes. The province’s improved competitiveness through agile ICT adoption will lead to a giant leap in industrialisation and the emergence of new globally competitive sectors.

Amongst others, our Digital Transformation Strategy will aid Government-to-Government Interaction across spheres, Government-to-Citizen Interaction, and Government-to-Business Interaction.

Aligned to this, in October 2022 the province launched the first Mobile Digital Analytics Skills Laboratory to expose school children from an early age to Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. We are creating an environment where innovation is nurtured and supported and to catch with the rest of the world.

A citizen-centric approach promotes digital literacy as a basic skill, encourages incorporation of ICT in education, workforce preparation and government services. It enhances technological innovation and skills readiness and strengthens digitisation infrastructure at all educational levels,

Network changes are critical to enable IT processes to be automated and to end all manual processes. They are also urgently needed to enhance quality performance of urban services like energy, connectivity, transportation, utilities and others to improve quality of life.

Welcome to GovTech 2023. Welcome to the e-city of “eThekwini”. Welcome to KwaZulu-Natal and welcome to the future!