Only countries that effectively integrate information and communication technology in the conduct of diplomacy will be able to position themselves for the future, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks while officiating training for Namibian diplomats on digital diplomacy, which ended on Monday.
She added that digitalisation in the conduct of government business will become the norm in many ways, including diplomacy.
“Namibia has recognised that digitalisation enhances and facilitates the work of diplomats in various sectors, such as health, education, trade and security, in order to develop skills needed to navigate contemporary challenges,” Nandi-Ndaitwah is quoted as saying in a statement on the 10 days of training issued on Tuesday.
She added that Namibia needs to pay special attention to digital training and embrace digital transformation to advance each industry while upholding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal eight which focuses on decent work on economic growth and goal nine, which focuses on industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The training was offered by the DiploFoundation in partnership with the Maltese government.
Malta’s Foreign Minister, Evarist Bartolo, said diplomats need to strike a balance between updating diplomacy for the 21st century and respecting the traditional values which diplomacy has nurtured for many years.
Referring to a time where the world is struggling with conflict and uncertainty, the minister said: “Small states offered a unique insight on how countries can build relations with each other through multilateralism and negotiation.”
The training session was attended by Namibian Heads of Mission, home-based staff at missions, management and staff members at headquarters and Ministry of Information and Communication Technology management and staff members.
According to the statement, the training focused on the importance of digitisation for the future of nations around the world, particularly as countries seek to shape their destiny in geopolitics as impacted by technology.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
