[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Tue Jan 5 13:39:41 EAT 2010

I second the need for a clean break from Nairobi. A new
city....somewhere between Nairobi & Mombasa. How does Mtitu Andei
sound?....start the infrastructure from scratch

*Lots of cheap land
*Petroleum pipeline
*Available power
*Proximity to Mombasa seaport & airport
*Proximity to Nairobi & JKIA
*Mutually reinforcing with The Tsavo (tourism)
*Less prone to "watu wetu" politics of PNU&ODM (''Nairobi'' vs. Nyanza
vs. Rift Valley etc)
*Virgin territory ready for a "Dubai" idealistic set-up.

Other ICT parks would come up elsewhere....nyanza, central rift etc..

Any takers?
Wainaina

On 1/5/10, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This is interesting, but note that Daystar does not offer any technology
> degrees thus there is no university near the proposed Park making  Eldoret
> more favourable.
>
> Athi River/Kitengela currently have some of the highest electricity
> consumers namely the cement companies and the EPZ which would create
> additional pressure of power.  Having the ICT Park elsewhere would allow the
> development of clean power generation such as wind and solar.
>
> Why do you need an International airport, I thought software does not
> require physical delivery.
>
> Nairobi is the problem here, it has too many issues such as high cost of
> living, strain on its infrastructure and continued adhoc growth a condition
> that also ails Athi River, Machakos and Kitengela.  We need to make a clean
> break, this City is terminal no need throwing good money after bad.
>
> I like your analysis but we need to localise the issues and not buy the text
> book recommendations blindly.  Lets use this opportunity to create a new
> City that will be planned right and in an area where there are fewer vested
> interests.
>
> Again I ask, can the ICTBoard & the Ministry provide us with the master plan
> for the ICT Park so that we can continue this discussion in a more
> enlightened way.
>
> Regards
>
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
> --- On Wed, 30/12/09, Victor Gathara <v-gathara at dfid.gov.uk> wrote:
>
>
> From: Victor Gathara <v-gathara at dfid.gov.uk>
> Subject: [kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks
> To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Wednesday, 30 December, 2009, 6:59
>
>
>
> 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]
>
>
> • 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] Booz Allen Hamilton: ICT parks offer a fast-track development approach
> for the Middle East, 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
>
> 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 on
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