I wish you all the very best for 2023.
Looks like things are going to be a bit challenging this year ek “nou pou bizin marye pike” to achieve greatness ?
Happy New Year 2023
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Mauritius: the past, now and the future
On 7 December 2022, I did a presentation on “Robotique et IA à Maurice: Historique, État des lieux et Challenges” during a workshop on “Robotique Cooperative et Intelligence Artificielle” at the “Université des Mascareignes”.
I started by explaining how the sugar industry has been very forward-looking by introducing mechanised harvesting in the 1990s and how automation is pervasive today. This is something which is rarely known to the public. Then, I embarked on an exposé of Vision 2030 of the Government and the Three-Year Strategic Plan of 2017-2020 (which is still ongoing). In particular, I gave the list of the six growth sectors for Mauritius and the required enablers (including, of course, innovation).
Then, I spoke about the need to come up with Smart Citizens in order to build a Smart Mauritius. Having Smart Citizens is absolutely fundamental in order to tackle the complex issues we have today as well as elect Smart Politicians.
Because I had an audience of teachers and students, I spent some time on ways to enhance our education system in order to create more Smart Citizens. Techniques such as personalised learning could be used. Why do we all need to learn the same things and in the same way? This can make learning more enjoyable and, hence, be an important means to leave no one behind.
Furthermore, learning is not only about the young people. In our era, we all need to engage in lifelong learning. We need to find interesting and effective ways to upskill and reskill our existing working population.
I then gave an outline of the Artificial Intelligence strategy in Government from the World AI Show in 2018, to the formulation of the strategy a few months later, the decision to setup a Mauritius Artificial Intelligence Council and, subsequently, the decision to have one agency for all emerging technologies (one of which being AI).
Of course, being at the the “Université des Mascareignes”, I spoke lengthily about the excellent decision to introduce their Masters in AI and the impact this can have.
But I also shared my general feeling that things move too slowly in Mauritius. From 2018 to 2022, four years have elapsed and we should have done much more.
Focusing on important and big challenges to achieve Net Zero
Today, I participated in a Road to Net Zero conference organized by the School of Sustainable Development and Tourism of the University of Technology, Mauritius and the University of Birmingham, UK. Themes covered during the day were climate change, renewable energy, ESG disclosure and the SDG framework.
The official opening was done by the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation.
The keynote speaker was Associate Professor Roshan Boojihawon from the University of Birmingham in the UK. Rudy Oh-Seng, Environment Officer at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, intervened next.
My own presentation was about ways to achieve our 2030 development targets. I spoke about the existing Vision 2030 of the Republic of Mauritius, the UNDP Strategy for 2022 to 2025 and the absolute need to focus on having a skilled workforce to tackle the important and big problems facing us.
Last but not least was Mreedula Mungra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency (MARENA), who masterfully explained the steps to follow to achieve the vision of having 60% renewable energy within the next eight years.
In the audience were representatives of the private sector involved in sustainability, academics and students from Mauritius and abroad. The level of interaction between the audience and the speakers was excellent. Many were young professionals and young students and they are instrumental in the country acheiving its many targets.
Tomorrow, the sessions will be more technical and more focussed on ESG disclosure.