Colombia to Harness Public Data for Artificial Intelligence Growth

Colombia is preparing a bill to become a data producing country. In the next few days, the Colombian government will present a legislative project to develop a culture of data management and use in the country. This was announced by the Minister of Information Technologies and Communications (ICT), Mauricio Lizcano, from Cartagena de Indias.

The head of the ICT portfolio took advantage of his participation in the Camp of Asobancaria, the guild of banks and financial institutions, to explain to the sector the route defined by the Ministry to make Colombia a Digital Power linked to artificial intelligence.

Data production

The minister expressed the need for state entities to produce and store data that can be used by artificial intelligence. “We want Colombia to become a data-producing country, which is why we are going to present a bill in which state entities will have to produce data,” said Minister Lizcano.

To this end, the head of the ICT portfolio said that they will work with the financial guild Asobancaria and with the public entity that regulates the sector, Financial Superintendence, among other entities, to see how to have a repository of all the data of Colombians managed by these entities that will be used to create artificial intelligence. “With this we will advance in creating a data culture in the country,” explained the ICT minister.

Improving connectivity in the Caribbean

After this presentation, he held a meeting with the governor of Bolivar, Yamil Arana, to discuss issues of connectivity and digital education in the department, a meeting that produced some positive news for the region.

Firstly, the determination of the MinTIC to support the work being done to make Mompox the first truly smart city in the country, where its different attributes are enhanced thanks to technology, was ratified. In addition, an announcement has been made regarding the development of Artificial Intelligence Microcenters in Bolivar, in the municipalities of Pinillos, Mompox, Turbaco, Magangue and Cartagena, where the mayor had already committed to one.

Connectivity for the children of the department was another focus of the meeting: “80% of the schools in Bolivar will be connected, some with satellite internet, others with fiber optics, others through the Digital Centers. Thanks to these strategies, we will be making the largest investment in connectivity for schools that has been made in the department,” said Minister Lizcano, who also said that an agreement will be signed with the governor’s office, so that for every computer that this entity buys to deliver to students, the MinTIC will contribute two.