After a successful launch last year, Tutwa Consulting Group (TCG) celebrated its 1st anniversary with three short seminars that discussed digital diplomacy, industrialisation, and the green economy. The event was held on May 3 at the Voila Hotel in Moka.
TCG is a small African consulting firm that has been running development projects throughout Africa since 2013. The company became a proprietary limited company in South Africa in 2016. In December 2021, the group established its regional office in Mauritius, where it has already formed partnerships with local institutions and corporate partners.
Commenting on the successful launch Dina Jeetah, Senior Legal Counsel at TCG highlighted that we are living in a digital era where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, every aspect of our life is being impacted by technological innovations and this presents us with both opportunities and challenges.
Sharing her views on the successful launch here, and with the island playing a key strategic role, she said: “Mauritius is emerging as a key player in the digital and trade diplomacy landscape in Africa. Mauritius has also taken a proactive approach to digital diplomacy, the government has launched several initiatives to promote Mauritius as a hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship. Mauritius has also emerged as a leading platform for trade and diplomacy in Africa”.
Adding to this, Lesley Wentworth, Group Managing Director at TCG said, “We achieved most of what we set out to do last year. We are now launching the Winter school on trade industry and digital transformation in September. By launching this, our goal is to enhance the capacity and understanding of the trade industry and digital transformation. The company will be collaborating with local Mauritian universities to create a program that caters to the needs of Africans and is developed by Africans themselves. With regards to green economy, we have launched our Time to Transition database.”
It should be noted that TCG has established strong connections with a diverse range of stakeholder groups which includes government, regional and international institutions, think tanks, the private sector, and civil society.
During her speech, Dina said: “In this new e-economy, we must focus on creating value rather than allocating resources, this means we must think beyond traditional economic models and embrace new forms of collaborations and innovations that are based on the principles of inclusivity and sustainability. Innovation is critical because it enables us to create new opportunities and solve problems that were previously unsolvable.”
She went onto add, “Inclusivity is essential because it ensures that everyone has access to the benefits of innovations and that no one is left behind. Sustainability is necessary because it ensures that we can continue to innovate and grow without compromising the future of our planet. In respect to innovation, it is key to unlocking the potential of the digital age, however, innovation is not easy, it requires a supportive ecosystem that encourages experimentation and risk-taking.”
Most importantly, TCG’s directors and shareholders have collaborated with various regional and international institutions, such as the African Union (AU), African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-NEPAD, APRM, African Development Bank, SADC, SACU, COMESA, World Bank Group, UNDP, UNECA, UNHCR, OECD, and WTO.
Dina also explained that digital diplomacy is becoming important in today’s world as the use of new technologies and social media is transforming the way governments and diplomats communicate and interact with each other and the public. She stated, “One of the main benefits of Digital Diplomacy is that it can help to break down barriers between countries and cultures and facilitates dialogues and corporations on a global scale. Digital diplomacy can help to promote a more global and interconnected world view, it can also help to promote transparency and accountability in international relations by making it easier for governments and diplomates to communicate their messages and engage with the public.”
TCG collaborates with various organisations, including a partnership with the LINK Centre at WITS University, to support African governments on digital and e-commerce strategies, and has established a Regional Trade Network to highlight the importance of trade and investment agreements. To learn more about Tutwa Consulting Group (TCG), check out heir website: https://tutwaconsulting.com