South Africa: On Friday, 15 July 2022, the Free State Provincial Government, in collaboration with the Central University of Technology, held a media brief to launch the second Free State Industry 4.0 Summit.
Under the theme: “Accelerating Economic Growth and Development of The Free State Province Through Innovative 4IR Technologies for Eradicating Poverty and Unemployment”, the summit will take place at the Boet Troskie Hall at the Central University of Technology (CUT) Bloemfontein Campus on 21 – 22 July 2022.
In her 2022 budget vote speech, the Premier of the Free State province, Sefora Ntombela, declared: “In this age of the knowledge economy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a catalyst for growth and development. In government, ICT enhances efficiency, transparency, accountability, and innovation for improved service delivery.”
The Acting Director General of the Free State Provincial Government, Dr Mafole Mokalobe, expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by both government and CUT to make technology a part of society’s daily life. He further encouraged the organisers of the upcoming summit to reach far-flung areas and introduce technology to people who do not have access to it.
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Alfred Ngowi encouraged residents of the province to welcome change.
“People should not be afraid of change but rather equip themselves with the 4IR skill set that will keep them relevant in their workspace. The world is moving towards an era of artificial intelligence, and the public sector, institutions of higher learning and corporate giants are coming together and collaborating to stay relevant with the times.”
