Tanzania has joined a regional dialogue on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost economic governance, signaling its commitment to leveraging technology for better public service and financial management.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Ms. Amina Khamis Shaaban, represented the country at the forum organized by the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI).
The event was held alongside the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in Washington D.C., United States.
MEFMI, a regional institution, focuses on building the capacity of member states in economic policy, fiscal management, debt oversight, and economic statistics.
During the discussions, participants explored how AI can transform economic governance by improving revenue collection, processing data for informed policy and investment decisions, efficiently allocating financial resources, and enhancing public service delivery.
The forum also addressed challenges facing AI adoption in developing countries, including weak digital infrastructure, limited access to reliable data, shortages of skilled technology experts, and concerns over data security and privacy.
Experts emphasized the need for countries to invest in digital infrastructure, build institutional and technical expertise, and develop clear policies to ensure AI is used safely, ethically, and sustainably.
For Tanzania, the careful adoption of AI could strengthen public financial management, boost institutional efficiency, and create a more competitive and inclusive economy, ultimately benefiting citizens through better services and smarter resource management.