Botswana is accelerating its push toward becoming a knowledge-based economy, with government and private sector leaders positioning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and broadband infrastructure as central to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
Speaking at the Huawei ICT Congress 2026 in Gaborone on Wednesday, Assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation Shawn Ntlhaile said digitalisation had become an “urgent national imperative” as the country seeks to diversify its economy beyond natural resources.
Ntlhaile said Botswana’s Economic Transformation Plan (BETP), introduced by President Gideon Duma Boko in 2025, is aimed at driving economic diversification and improving public service delivery through information and communications technology.
“Vision 2036 boldly declares our ambition to transition from a resource-based economy to a high-income, knowledge-based economy,” he said, adding that Botswana must harness broadband connectivity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to ensure “no Motswana is left behind in the digital era.”
The minister highlighted government-backed initiatives, such as the Village Connectivity Project, which focuses on expanding high-speed internet access to rural communities, schools, and clinics. He said the programme is intended to bridge the digital divide while enabling broader access to information, global markets, and digital skills.
Botswana is also accelerating its e-government programme by moving more public services online to improve transparency and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, according to Ntlhaile.
The event underscored the growing role Chinese technology giant Huawei is seeking to play in Botswana’s digital transformation efforts. Huawei Botswana Managing Director Li Dalu said the country had already made significant progress in building a resilient digital ecosystem, supported by expanding broadband infrastructure and growing adoption of digital services.
The company said the next phase of digital transformation would shift beyond connectivity toward “intelligence, value creation, and the effective use of data and emerging technologies.”
Huawei said it plans to support Botswana’s transition through investments in 5G, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital power, data centres, and smart government applications. The company also identified youth skills development as a strategic priority, citing initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Academy, national ICT competitions, and technical training programmes focused on AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong said digital cooperation between China and Botswana would remain central under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework. He said China was committed to supporting infrastructure development, technology transfer, and digital governance in Botswana.
Fan said Chinese-backed programmes such as Huawei’s “Seeds for the Future” initiative and the Huawei ICT Academy had already equipped thousands of young Batswana with digital skills, while smart education and rural connectivity projects were helping prepare the country for what he described as the “Age of Intelligence.”
The Huawei ICT Congress 2026 was held under the theme “Advancing All Intelligence,” bringing together government officials, technology executives, and private sector leaders to discuss Botswana’s digital transformation ambitions.