COMMUNIQUE OF THE 01^ST ANNUAL ICT PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE (AIPC17) ORGANIZED BY THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION HELD AT THE JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA FROM 26^TH -27^TH OCTOBER 2017

A major milestone has been achieved in the history of the ICT industry when the ICT Commission organized and hosted the first Annual ICT Professionals Conference from 26^th – 27^th October 2017. More than 300 participants registered and attended the conference from the Government, Public Institutions, Private Sector, Academic institutions, Development Partners, International Organizations and individuals.

The theme of the conference was “Building the Tanzania digital Industrial economy” deliberating on how ICT Professionals, Stakeholders, interested parties and Tanzania at large can achieve various goals through the use of digital technology in the global fourth industrial revolution.

Sub themes of the discussed during the conference were as follows:

1.Principals of profession accreditation in ICT: An introduction on the ICT Professionals was introduced to give awareness to stakeholders on the importance of professional recognition, continuous skills development for ICT Professionals and ethics in ICT business practice.

2.Trust and confidence in digital industrial economy: The conference examined the status and emerging global trends in the context of Cyber security, what further needs to be done to strengthen cyber security ecosystem in Tanzania and skills set needed towards achieving a truly secure and trustworthy cyberspace in Tanzania.

3.Challenges and opportunities with evolving technologies: participants examined and shared experience on how evolving technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, block chain and others can shape the future organizations and socio-economic development of Tanzania. The challenges and opportunities to individuals and ICT industry, were outlined and discussed.

4.Smart cities in digital industrial era: Innovation towards Smart Cities, h

5.Digital agenda for Tanzania: Discussion on trends of digital transformation and its impact on future businesses and organizations was held by participants.

6.Jobs and entrepreneurship in ICT: The conference debated on the future Enterprise; Innovation Strategies and initiatives on how to promote new forms of digital enterprises towards a Tanzania Digital Economy.

During the two day period of discussions, experience sharing and awareness on various ICT issues, the conference came out with the following conclusions as way forward:

1. a.ICT Professionals of Tanzania need to be recognized and adopt to the professional career development through continued professional development programs to enhance their competence in the global digital industrial economy;

1. b.With the change in global ICT landscape in the world through evolving technologies, ICT professionals in Tanzania need to support business innovation, direct job creation, support emergence of new services and industries and, workforce transformation

1. c.The Government needs to prioritize ICT areas to facilitate attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in collaboration with private sector, encourage Innovation, investment and Partnerships for effective implementation of SDG’s and have in place a framework of sustainable business and development goals.

1. d.The Government through the ICT Commission and other ICT institutions needs to put in place a strategy to increase ICT Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), have human capital, social service systems, financial systems, regulatory systems and infrastructure systems that support jobs and entrepreneurship in ICT.

1. e.The Government need to expedite finalization of the Cyber security strategy, raise public awareness, ensure professional ethics and improved skill sets in cyber security, cyber resilient supply chain of products and services and security in the financial sector.

The conference offered an opportunity for ideas and experience sharing among participants. Conferences of this nature have been lacking in Tanzania thus leading to gaps in collective implementation of policy and strategic direction of ICT in Tanzania. The conference concluded that the continuity and sustainability of ICT Professionals Conferences of such nature is critical for the developments of ICT Professionals and ICT at large in Tanzania. The 02^nd Annual ICT Professionals Conference will be held on 24^th -26^th October 2018