Japanese embark on E-govt project for Botswana

Gothataone Moeng | Monday December 9, 2013 16:38

The Ambassador of Japan to Botswana Hiroyasu Koboyashi told a gathering at his official residence on Thursday night that his government intends, with the cooperation of the Botswana government, to embark on a pilot project for e-government and e-education using data broadcasting.

Data broadcasting is referred to as broadcasting, which mainly transmits data and differs from television broadcasting, which mainly transmits movies or radio broadcasting, which mainly transmits sounds.

Koboyashi said on Thursday that his government would also, starting 2014, dispatch experts to Botswana to transfer technology in the areas of digital migration and broadcasting content production.

'In such ways, the government of Japan will endeavour to ensure a smooth transfer to digital broadcasting in Botswana,' he said, during a ceremony to celebrate the Japanese Emperor's 80th birthday.

This year, Botswana and Japan signed a Memorandum on Cooperation in the Digital Terrestial Television Sector, after Botswana differed from regional standards and adopted the Japanese ISDB-T standard of digital terrestrial broadcasting.

Koboyashi said Friday that Japan is honoured by the trust Botswana has placed in Japanese technology, and will ensure that the technological advantages of ISDB-T contribute to the development of Botswana.

Botswana and Japan have also cooperated in Educational Television Broadcasting following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK.

On Friday, the Minister of Education and Skills Development Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi called this a highlight of the Botswana-Japan cooperation. She said the occasion to celebrate the Emperor's birthday gave Botswana an opportunity to pay tribute to Japan's unwavering commitment to uplift the living standards of its citizens.

Meanwhile, Koboyashi also said the government of Japan is in the process of researching the possibility of cultivating, in Botswana, a plant that the world is looking towards for the production of bio-fuel.

The ambassador said that his government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is currently researching the possibility of cultivating the Jatropha plant for bio-diesel in frost and drought-prone regions in Botswana.

'The project has made much progress so far, with the aid of two experts from JICA,' Koboyashi said. The Jatropha plant, a drought-resistant plant native to Latin America, India and the Phillipines, has been cited as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. According to jatrophaworld.org, the plant produces seeds containing 37 percent oil, which can be combusted into fuel.

Koboyashi said this is not the only area in which his country is continuing a multi-level approach to push forward the economic development of Botswana, saying Japan currently has around 20 volunteers and experts transferring their knowledge and skills to their Botswana counterparts in various areas including business administration, graphic design, computer engineering, dressmaking and carpentry.