The ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano, tours the department of Huila today on an official visit. During the morning, he led a Connectivity Roundtable in Pitalito, and then arrived in Neiva, where he held a meeting with the governor, Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera, and 32 mayors of the department, in which he announced investments of nearly $81.4 billion for connectivity projects. , and the construction of two Artificial Intelligence Training Microcenters, in Neiva and Pitalito.
“The Government of Change’s investment in Huila’s connectivity will allow, among other things, 386 schools to receive internet, some satellite and others via fiber optics. In addition, we committed to the governor and the mayor of Pitalito to develop an innovation project in coffee, to promote AgroTech in this region. Why coffee? Because Huila is the largest producer of the grain in Colombia, they are the new coffee axis, so we have to encourage that sector with investment and technology“said the ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano (@MauricioLizcano).
Minister Lizcano’s visit to Huila began in the municipality of Pitalito, where he led a connectivity table to listen to leaders from the region and the community, and verify the needs regarding Internet access and use. In this meeting it was defined that in the coming days an intervention team will be delegated to evaluate and review what is happening with the connectivity in the sidewalks, since the operators have been told that they must provide a good service, or they will be sanctioned by the Ministry .
In addition, he announced the development of four Internet Boards in the municipality, and the construction of a Micro Training Center in Artificial Intelligence, to strengthen the technological infrastructure and open new development opportunities for boys, girls and young people in the territory.
“PItalito is very grateful to the Government of President Gustavo Petro, and to the ICT Ministry. With this micro AI training center we take a step towards development. It will be a project that will save lives and will train boys, girls and young people in our municipality, who had not previously been given the space for healthy growth.“said the mayor of Pitalito, Yider Luna.
In Neiva, the ICT Minister held a meeting with the governor of Huila, Rodrigo Villalba, and 32 mayors of the department, to work jointly for the connectivity of the department. After the meeting, it was decided to advance in the implementation of innovation programs, digital education, development of Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity for the region. In addition, promote the Internet Boards, a strategy for communities to bring connectivity to their territories, through the Community Action Boards.
Minister Lizcano explained that the $81.4 billion that will be invested in connectivity in Huila includes the installation of 10 Community Zones for Peace in Algeciras, PDET municipality, with an investment of $1.4 billion. Likewise, through the Digital Power Schools program, 113 educational institutions in 18 municipalities have been prioritized, and with 5G Power Schools, 273 schools in Huila, in 28 territories. For this pair of projects that bring internet to official educational venues, the ICT Ministry is investing $71,000 million.
“We are very pleased with the presence of the ICT Minister, as we feel that this ministry is in good hands. A couple of months ago I was in his office and he showed me his institutional offer, and we talked about our determination to actively link up, and today we are seeing it. Thank you for that investment that is being reflected in the department, and here we will continue to be ready to work hand in hand with technology.“added Rodrigo Villalba, governor of Huila.
After these announcements, the ICT Minister gave a conference on Artificial Intelligence at the Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva headquarters, continuing with his purpose of democratizing this technology.
The agenda in Huila ends in Baraya, where the head of the ICT portfolio will deliver 304 computers for students from the Joaquín García Borrero, La Troja and Antonio Baraya educational institutions. These equipment, which children and young people will be able to take home, will be essential so that the families of this municipality can advance both in the training of digital skills and in the popular household economy, another of the ways in which the ICT Ministry works to make Colombia a Digital Power.
