Mission: “To develop a high quality skills and knowledge base leveraging ICT” Objectives 1: (SD-01) Capacity building in ICT In order to fully maximize and realize ICT benefits, Rwanda must greatly boost ICT competencies and skills. The capacities of the public and private sector as well as civil society to utilize ICTs must continuously be developed in order to fast track the country’s transformation into a knowledge-based society. 2: (SD-02) Foster Research & Development (R&D) to spur innovation Technological innovation is critical to ICT and economic development. Currently, Rwanda has limited R&D and insufficient institutional capacity to innovate. Investment in science and technology (S&T) and R&D is important in fostering innovation for economic transformation and must be part of a larger framework to build S&T institutional capabilities. 3: (SD-03) Improve access to education and training through ICT Primary, secondary, vocational and tertiary education can be enhanced through ICT education and training tools, e-learning, content development and access to educational resources, in order to foster innovation. Since education delivery involves both government and non-government actors, ICTs can also be leveraged to ensure efficient delivery of informal education. 2.2.2. Private Sector Development [PSD] Entrepreneurship fosters innovation, generates wealth and creates jobs thereby expanding the tax-base and increasing economic development. Achieving Vision 2020 and improving Rwanda’s competitiveness hinges on private sector led development, hence the need to continuously improve the enabling environment to spur growth and realize EDPRS goals of widening and strengthening the financial sector; raising the contribution of services to economic development and building an economic infrastructure. Therefore, a specific focus on growing and strengthening the ICT sector and other ICT enabled sectors is of paramount importance in this plan. This focus area will also help address the national priority of developing viable SMEs. The scope of the private sector development is two fold. First is to develop the ICT sector and second, a competitive and vibrant private sector leveraging ICT. Mission: “To develop a vibrant, competitive, and innovative ICT / ICT enabled private sector” Objectives 1: (PSD-01) Support the development of a competitive ICT sector Today, the ICT private sector lacks sufficient capital to start, expand and develop businesses. This is a key obstacle cited by ICT companies, which requires significant attention. In addition, the lack of knowledge and technology transfer and innovation weakens the sector. Page 22 of 85   © No part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of Rwanda Ministry in charge of ICT in the Office of the President.