Are our smaller nations set for success or retrogress within the sphere of a digital economy? Once prepared for change or to adapt we can never fail. Mark you change is the insurance of life itself.
We have all heard the news haven't we? What is the news?
Paper dollars and coins are facing out to be more precise in the United States of America. US Central bank will be rolling out the new Digital US Dollar in the first week of April 2023. Latter is a program called the "FED NOW PROGRAM" Ultimately, it will replace the US paper currency or paper dollar and coins.
Thought provoking reflections must therefore remain propellers of our psyche's vessel of projections. Especially within and outside of small nations and small economies like The Gambia. We have been hearing about "Cryptocurrencies" for a couple of years now, isn't it? Why not we all combine our efforts to set the pace for a "New World Order" from the perspective of a digital economy?
Soon after post colonial Africa was "launched" by history and time, we were somewhat left behind. However, at this embryonic stage of a digital economy as a product of Artificial Intelligence, we definitely have no excuse for lagging behind.
Our current generation is tech savvy. We can without any doubt, let or hindrance participate locally and globally to assert what we want or potentials we must be recognized with digitally speaking. A conference on digital trust in Africa was organized in Dakar, Senegal in 2017 where I was invited all the way from Louisville Kentucky USA to deliver a speech. Where are we at today? Sense has poked us with the following old adage again. Prevention is better than cure! Smaller nations and smaller economies like ours have a chance to swim or sink.
Imagine us The Gambia being on the list of Sub Saharan African countries that are AGOA - eligible! Imagine us The Gambia with a chance to access the US Market with our own products! What bars us from preparing the ground now thus be able to access the US Market especially now that it is more of a new beginning than anything else!
Ministry of foreign affairs must entertain the culture of working with our ministry of digital economy, ministry of finance and economic affairs, central bank with other institutions to pierce through the horizon of anticipatory intelligence. Engaging brains like former governors of central bank like Mr Abdou Njie, researchers like Dr Abdoulaye Baks Touray, or form a think tank on this with specialists like Dr Ebrima Sall former head of CODESRIA is something we should look into with utmost urgency.
Of course there are other Gambians who have the required know how with youngsters like Mr Mbanyick Joof and Abdoulie Njie Ambassador at large who are qualified candidates to form a sophisticated group of experts to that effect. Digital economy is new before our eyes but it has been in the making since the advent of computers.
It was creeping all these years.
Author: Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sy.
We have all heard the news haven't we? What is the news?
Paper dollars and coins are facing out to be more precise in the United States of America. US Central bank will be rolling out the new Digital US Dollar in the first week of April 2023. Latter is a program called the "FED NOW PROGRAM" Ultimately, it will replace the US paper currency or paper dollar and coins.
Thought provoking reflections must therefore remain propellers of our psyche's vessel of projections. Especially within and outside of small nations and small economies like The Gambia. We have been hearing about "Cryptocurrencies" for a couple of years now, isn't it? Why not we all combine our efforts to set the pace for a "New World Order" from the perspective of a digital economy?
Soon after post colonial Africa was "launched" by history and time, we were somewhat left behind. However, at this embryonic stage of a digital economy as a product of Artificial Intelligence, we definitely have no excuse for lagging behind.
Our current generation is tech savvy. We can without any doubt, let or hindrance participate locally and globally to assert what we want or potentials we must be recognized with digitally speaking. A conference on digital trust in Africa was organized in Dakar, Senegal in 2017 where I was invited all the way from Louisville Kentucky USA to deliver a speech. Where are we at today? Sense has poked us with the following old adage again. Prevention is better than cure! Smaller nations and smaller economies like ours have a chance to swim or sink.
Imagine us The Gambia being on the list of Sub Saharan African countries that are AGOA - eligible! Imagine us The Gambia with a chance to access the US Market with our own products! What bars us from preparing the ground now thus be able to access the US Market especially now that it is more of a new beginning than anything else!
Ministry of foreign affairs must entertain the culture of working with our ministry of digital economy, ministry of finance and economic affairs, central bank with other institutions to pierce through the horizon of anticipatory intelligence. Engaging brains like former governors of central bank like Mr Abdou Njie, researchers like Dr Abdoulaye Baks Touray, or form a think tank on this with specialists like Dr Ebrima Sall former head of CODESRIA is something we should look into with utmost urgency.
Of course there are other Gambians who have the required know how with youngsters like Mr Mbanyick Joof and Abdoulie Njie Ambassador at large who are qualified candidates to form a sophisticated group of experts to that effect. Digital economy is new before our eyes but it has been in the making since the advent of computers.
It was creeping all these years.
Author: Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sy.