[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Thu Dec 31 08:00:12 EAT 2009

Dr Ndemo.

I would like to setup a session where you can present the concept paper.

How do we go about this... I think a townhall meeting type thing would work ?

Please advice.

Thanks

On 12/30/09, bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
> Victor,
> Just imagine you inform us that you will be having a party then we begin
> asking for the guest list, the type of soup and if it will taste like that
> of Ilyev.  The food is being cooked and when time comes (the dates I gave
> you) we shall give all the information.  None of you has ever invited me
> to present the concept paper.
>
> Regards
>
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>> Thanks Dr Ndemo.
>>
>> Good to know and sounds great. I echo what one lister mentioned earlier
>> about getting 'snippets' of information. Would help if this information
>> was available on www (is it?) so we have a clearer picture.
>>
>> Victor
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke]
>> Sent: 30 December 2009 13:15
>> To: Victor Gathara
>> Cc: bitange at jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks
>>
>> Thank you Victor.  We are not actually putting up just a BPO Park.  This
>> is a Special Economic Zone that we are jointly putting up with other
>> sector including the financial sector (Finanncial District),  the science
>> park (with all other research institutions), tourism (Hotels), Industrial
>> park as well as a Trade Centre (Convention Centre).  The entire project
>> would include first class hospital and international schools.  It is
>> simply a new city, an exempler on how things must be done.  We have taken
>> into consideration of all the issues raised by Booz Allen.  We are in the
>> process of coming up with the feasibility study by February and a Master
>> Plan by April.
>>
>> We are revising the Vision 2030 to refer to the BPO sector as IT enebled
>> services (ITES).  We are not to remain a BPO location for ever.  We must
>> climp the ladder to get to the real digital world.  BPO was proposed as
>> bait to get us thinking how we can make money out of ICTs.  Unfortunately,
>> I see many of us getting stuck in this.  The broad thinking is to provide
>> fist world class infrastructure, develop capacity to utilize the
>> infrastructure then leave people alone.  This is called facilitation and
>> ideally entrepreneurialism would then propel economic growth.  But to be
>> honest I get disappointed when those who are supposed to understand this
>> basic theory begin to get confused even before the food cooks.
>>
>> In the Western ideology which we pretend to subscribe to, political
>> freedom and individual liberties are paramount.  In those other ideologies
>> that have failed they thought success will come from the state managing
>> economic, social and cultural activities.  To some extent this looks fair
>> but it failed to be sustainable.
>>
>> Whereas the later ideology has had some failures, these we simply market
>> fluctuations and indeed even local banana markets, markets do fail but not
>> the ambitions of a free society.  Therefore, please give us the benefit of
>> doubt that we have put a lot of thought to the SEZ in Athi River.  At
>> lease we are not sitting and not doing anything as it has been in the
>> past.
>>
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Dr Ndemo,
>>>
>>> The following is an excerpt for a paper I wrote  on the impact of the
>>> arrival of sub-marine fibre in East
>>> Africa(http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/workingpapers/Gathero.doc). In
>>> it I suggest we adopt consultant Booz Allen Hamilton's six levers for
>>> successful development of an ICT park strategy for Kenya.
>>>
>>> ______________________
>>>
>>> ICT Parks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Kenya's BPO sector cannot succeed without a critical mass of companies
>>> at least a handful of which must be of significant size (000s of
>>> employees).
>>> The Government can fast-track an environment conducive to ICT sector
>>> growth by fostering ICT parks - one or more buildings in which there
>>> is a full range of services including reliable electrical power, high
>>> speed lines, cabling, physical security and so on. GoK has undertaken
>>> the creation of one such park in Athi River. Building is expected to
>>> commence in July. The park will occupy about 5000 acres of land and is
>>> expected to employ over 10,000 people. While a positive undertaking,
>>> the park should be considered as part of an overall strategy.
>>> Consultant firm Booz Allen Hamilton has reviewed the learning from
>>> global experiences and suggests six main levers for the successful
>>> development of ICT parks:[1] <outbind://20/#_ftn1>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Purpose - This element must be articulated up front as it directly
>>> impacts the physical environment, regulatory and legal context,
>>> economic focus, level of integration to the national economy, etc. To
>>> illustrate, parks can focus on objectives dealing with ICT sector
>>> development, attraction of foreign investments and/or retention of
>>> domestic investments, and incubation of new business. The purpose of
>>> the Athi River Park should be clearly articulated.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Value Proposition - Central to the success of an ICT park is the
>>> definition and enactment of a legal and regulatory framework,
>>> provision of adequate infrastructure and facilities, availability of
>>> support services, overall quality of life, and location, to name a
>>> few. Importantly, the offering of communication-related services such
>>> as voice and data telecommunications, managed data services, and media
>>> broadcast all play a key role in shaping the value proposition. It
>>> would be good to get a blueprint of the park widely circulated showing
>>> advantages of businesses being housed there. The government can also
>>> make it easy for local or foreign firms to set up operations for
>>> example by giving tax incentives to companies, domestic and foreign
>>> operating in the park.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Location - The efficiency, effectiveness, and resulting lifestyle in
>>> these parks are important attributes. As a result, ICT parks tend to
>>> be located in dedicated areas outside the main city and within a short
>>> driving distance. They also tend to be located within a short driving
>>> distance from the airport as well as prominent universities. This
>>> clearly suits Athi River as a choice location with its distance from
>>> Nairobi, Daystar University and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
>>> Last but not least, Booz Allen suggests the park dedicates 30%-50% of
>>> their space to green areas with the objective to create a distinctive
>>> and attractive environment.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Partnership - ICT parks require close links to academic
>>> institutions, real estate developers, venture capitals and financial
>>> institutions, investment promotion agencies, and national government
>>> agencies involved in the ICT sector. To illustrate, and building on
>>> the learning of the broader experience of technology parks, nearly 50%
>>> of such developments are pursued within university-related premises.
>>> It would be prudent for the government to initiate such partnerships in
>>> this early stage.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Funding - ICT parks can be funded primarily through the private
>>> sector (e.g., real estate developers, private investors/placement) and
>>> government agencies if required. They are self-sustainable financially
>>> and can generate attractive returns. In this regard GoK should seek to
>>> enter Private Public Partnerships to ensure that there is private sector
>>> buy-in.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * Competitive Positioning - ICT parks can define their competitive
>>> positioning along three dimensions. Firstly, they need a
>>> differentiated positioning vis-à-vis other comparable developments
>>> within the same region (e.g., within the Arabian Peninsula, such as the
>>> Dubai Media city).
>>> Secondly, they need to offer distinctive benefits at a national level,
>>> in particular when considering that 50% of the tenants could represent
>>> already established institutions. Thirdly, ICT parks can be defined as
>>> part of a regional network of parks. Such a 'constellation' of parks
>>> aims to create cross-border synergies and complementary products,
>>> services, and strengths. The concept of 'constellation' is already
>>> into play at a national level with developments such as the Smart
>>> Villages in Egypt having planned presences in Giza (Cairo), Mansoura
>>> (Cairo), and Alexandria. The Athi River Park should therefore not be
>>> seen in isolation but as part of a constellation of parks. Others
>>> could be developed in University towns such as Eldoret, Nakuru and Juja.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> [1] <outbind://20/#_ftnref1>  Booz Allen Hamilton: ICT parks offer a
>>> fast-track development approach for the Middle East,
>>> http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html <http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Victor Gathara| UK Department for International Development| Regional
>>> IS Manager , East Africa| * email: v-gathara at dfid.gov.uk * Telephone:
>>> +254 20
>>> 2873349 * Fax: +254 20 2873102 * Ftn: 8300 3349 * Mobile: +254 733
>>> 414846
>>> url: www.dfid.gov.uk <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/>
>>>
>>>
>>> DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK
>>> Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at
>>> http://www.dfid.gov.uk.
>>>
>>> The road to Copenhagen: the UK Government's ambition for a global deal
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>> Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at
>> http://www.dfid.gov.uk.
>>
>> The road to Copenhagen: the UK Government's ambition for a global deal on
>> climate change. Find out more at http://www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk and
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