Mauritius and Estonia are to sign a memorandum of understanding on digital cooperation in the margins of the fifth Africa-European Union Summit 2017, scheduled to take place on 28-29 November 2017 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The minister of foreign affairs, regional integration and international trade of Mauritius, Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo said in a statement that the memorandum would help his country to become for Africa what Estonia is for Europe, being a digital pioneer.
“Our mission is to show the way and be the lighthouse of the region and this is the only way whereby we can emerge as a powerhouse in the region and pierce the middle income trap and become a really developed country” he said.
Another member of the Mauritius government, the minister of civil service and administrative reforms, Eddy Boissézon, said that if his country was to “take full advantage of the emerging growth opportunities and potential of digital technology, we need to leave our comfort zone and make the big digital leap.”
One of the founders of the e-Governance Academy of Estonia, Ivar Tallo, who recently took part in a digitalisation seminar in Mauritius, noted that even though Mauritius was secluded as a small island state, it should take full advantage of digitalisation as it opens the way to more opportunities and makes the lives of citizens easier.
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Cover: Aerial view of Mauritius island panorama and famous Le Morne Brabant mountain (the image is illustrative/Shutterstock).
