By Esther Wright
Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, has on the 30th June 2021 virtually launched the Directorate of Science Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Mapping Report that focuses on strengthening and growing entrepreneurial activity in Sierra Leone.
The Report would seek to provide data to policy makers needed to improve service delivery; providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs and investors to grow and scale business and also provide resources to producers and creators that promote the development of collaborative networks.
Rokya Ye Dieng, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, in her statement, expressed her delight at the launch of the report, noting that the UNDP together with partners have been working tirelessly to ensure the mapping exercise was done.
She said the ecosystem mapping would provide a holistic understanding of a digital and entrepreneurial environment in the country, identify gaps and provide the required policy direction for actions that would guide future planning in the digital agenda.
The Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA, Sharka Samuel Sannoh, said the data acquired would inform their program design and intervention. He said they would utilize the data to further understand the key challenges facing Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and what solutions they could proffer to make them better.
Team Leader for INVEST SALONE, Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie said that they would organize a roundtable to present the ecosystem map to investors and also present promising and invest-ready firms to potential investors, connecting the firms and investors to the pipelines.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Planning, Dr. Kai-Kai the New Direction Government recognizes a clear need for national entrepreneurship and digital tool launch that would enable government, development partners of Sierra Leone to engage in planning that would be informed by credible data.
He said the mapping would be needed for monitoring and evaluation and also inform coordination of the county’s economic development, which would guide and assist in preventing duplication of efforts.
Dr. Kai-Kai noted that the outcome of the Ecosystem mapping presented the country with numerous opportunities in pursuit of a sustainable development for Sierra Leone informed by credible data and as well driven by technology and innovations.
The Minister, then on behalf of His Excellency the President (Retired) Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Government of Sierra Leone symbolically launched the DSTI Ecosystem Mapping Report virtually.
