[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Tue Jan 5 13:48:15 EAT 2010

Wainaina, now you are taking us somewhere. At least, together with what
Robert has been advocating, there are options abound. One thing for sure is
we are in agreement that Nairobi is exhausted and having the Park far away
from the *City under the Sun*, would generate development and the mindset of
making everything originating from Nairobi.
I would have wished to see a master plan for the ICT park, then we look at
it and add our input.
(Dr. Ndemo?)

These comments are informative!

2010/1/5 Wainaina Mungai <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>

> 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
> > climate change. Find out more at http://www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk and
> about
> > DFID's work at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/climate.
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Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau
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