Activities marking the Information Communication Technology Week continued yesterday with a half-day forum for young entrepreneurs at the Seychelles Trading Company conference room.
Presentations and discussions at the forum focused on the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in line with the ICT week’s theme for this year, which is ‘ICT entrepreneurship for social impact’.
During the week, much emphasis is being put on the important role of SMEs in the country’s economy. The importance of integrating ICT in SMEs was once again echoed by the principal secretary (PS) for ICT Benjamin Choppy, as he launched the workshop.
He was speaking in the presence of the director of Unesco’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Information Society Division Dr Indrajit Banerjee and the PS for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Development Marise Berlouis.
Mr Choppy said that the event replied to government policy in its effort to promote ICT integration in SMEs.
Are our SMEs making full use of ICT? This was the question he asked.
Space 95 managing director Bernard Moutia unfortunately brought a negative answer to the question as he pointed out that there was still reluctance among SMEs to adapt to change and opt for effective management systems.
He added that it was difficult to have systems such as human resources and fleet management accepted by companies, while these would ensure safe and efficient operations.
Other speakers at the forum included the managing director of another ICT service provider called TFC International, Jean-Francois Rossignol; founder of on line retailer Venture Bay Robert Stravens; Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) marketing manager Vahid Jacob; and chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of commerce and Industry Wilson Nancy.
The ICT Week has been organised to commemorate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day which falls on May 17.
Its activities continue today with a debate at the Manchester Theatre at the Anse Royale UniSey campus. The theme of the debate is: ‘Does social media negatively affects human interaction?’
Source : Seychelles NATION