STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI
Read by the Hon Minister for Economic Planning and Development
AT THE INAUGURAL SWAZILAND INNOVATION CONFERENCE
ESANGWENI CONFERENCE CENTRE, ESIBAYENI LODGE
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2014
Honourable Minister for Information Communication and
Technology
Mr Israel Dessalegne, Resident Representative of UNDP
Professor Cisco Magagula, Vice Chancellor of UNISWA
Mr Ambrose Dlamini, CEO of MTN Swaziland
Chairman of the Innovators Association of Swaziland
UN Development Partners
South African Partners
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It was immensely exciting to learn of the new initiative that is the subject of this Conference today. I am only sorry that my very full diary prevents me from attending in person. Nevertheless I am honoured to have the opportunity to say a few words to the gathering through my esteemed colleague, the Honourable Minister for Economic Planning and Development.
When I see the words “youth,” “innovation” and “employment” the subject matter gets all my attention. And when we add the word “Swaziland” and put all those words together we realize that we are seeing the embryo of something which could prove quite spectacular for our country. It is clear to all concerned that innovation has transformed, and will continue to transform, lives. Indeed, it is also hugely instrumental in saving lives and ratcheting up the life expectancy rates across the globe.
But innovation should not only be happening elsewhere in the world. Why should Swaziland not also be in the vanguard of innovation? Developing the answer to that question is why we are all here this morning.
At this point I extend a special word of appreciation to UNDP for providing the momentum and funding for this early part of the initiative. I would also like to thank all of the presenters for giving their valuable time and sharing their know-how and views with the participants of this event.
Innovation has been transforming lives for many centuries. Indeed, if we define it as introducing new methods and ideas that improve life for the individual and enhance national development it can be seen that innovation has been taking place since the beginning of mankind. From the invention of the wheel, to the use of paper and, in due course, the printing press to the employment of robots for greater efficiency on the factory floor, mankind is continuously re-inventing itself through innovation. It just was not always called “innovation.”
Clearly the big difference seen in the past century is the pace that innovation has been taking place. Who, one hundred years ago, would have believed that in the latter part of the same century you could dial up a relative on the other side of the world and speak thirty seconds later – using something the size of a cigarette packet while walking in the hills? Who ten years ago could have envisaged the advent of stem cell adaptation or spinal damage repair? Invention and innovation become almost synonymous.
Then one of the most extraordinary pieces of innovation in recent times has been the ability to research almost any topic by linking to a global communication system called the Internet. And it is the Internet that, together with other hi-tec solutions, has provided much of the innovation of recent times. A 2011 study found that only four nations on our continent had created country solutions through innovation. We want to add Swaziland to that number.
As the old Chinese saying goes – in the journey of a thousand miles the first step is the biggest. Forming the Innovators Association of Swaziland is that first big step, and starting with 15 founding members. Already known by its acronym IAS, the association has lost no time in developing some impetus, holding the recent Design, Create, Innovate Competition. That competition was intended to attract the innovators – some dormant, some already emerging – from within the Kingdom. The aim was primarily to identify, and establish fertile territory for our potential innovators, as well as assembling as many ingenious and viable projects as possible.
The competition did not disappoint! From it emerged many innovative proposals - from a renewable energy technique, to an incubation rotation timer, to a wash-and-cycle mechanism, to education and crime reporting systems. I do most heartily congratulate those innovators whose projects were accepted under the competition. We have evidently already identified a nucleus of innovators. The question now is – how do we match talent and creativity with the full-time, properly rewarded use of their innovative skills? How do we resolve the existing challenges that they face in the area of business management and marketing skills, as well as invention protection arrangements?
UNDP, through an involvement with Swaziland spanning many years, has been critically aware of our youth unemployment figures which currently top 40 per cent. Conscious, too, of Government’s determination to introduce e-Government on a large scale, UNDP has generously assisted in the development of an e-Government Strategy which outlines Swaziland’s vision of achieving social, economic, fiscal and national capability and performance gains through the use of ICT.
The e-Governance Operational Plan has over 150 actions that will improve public service delivery. It is very much hoped that many hundreds of our young people will be getting involved in the design and development of solutions required to achieve the goals of the e-Government Strategy. We have an emerging partnership between the University of Swaziland, the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Junior Achievement and MTN. This is a most encouraging development and I do urge the partners to make the necessary resources available to empower our innovators.
And a further aim of the UNDP assistance is to bring together at a very early stage all the potential stakeholders. That is the conference we are attending today. A superbly crafted agenda has been put together for the two days, with expert presenters sharing knowledge and ideas, as well as stimulating vibrant and creative discussion. I shall be very interested in the outcome of the conference and trust that all stakeholders will leave with a clear idea of their respective roles in future innovation in our country.
With many presentations ahead of us let me now, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, declare the Swaziland Innovation Conference officially opened.
Thank you.