[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

[Nnenna Nwakanma]

Hi people,

The below option 'sounds great'  This would be optimum but from little  
experiences with Technoparks I know that:

1.  Nobody lives in the ICT city.  People live in the city and drive  
down.  The good thing, generally, is that they drive 'anti traffic  
wise' in the morning.
2. Most of the ones I have visited/worked with do have generous  
grounds, greens and eco-friendly spaces.  But I have found out that  
the greater reason is neither eco nor tourism, but creating a suitable  
environment for intellectually-intensive brain work.
3. If you want to depend on govt to provide a Master Plan of location,  
fine, but certainly not the content and the sustainability plan
4.  The important roles that govt can play, as have been mentioned in  
earlier posts will be that of land allocation, tax relief, security  
and basic infrastructure.
5. The bloodline of Technoparks is with the private sector.  Companies  
that do business there, initiatives and innovations that can take off  
there, international giants that can plant their regional/national  
reps there, IT and Telecoms folks who are happy to install because  
they can find qualified folks not too far from there and the strong  
message that the park sends out that 'any of your techno problem will  
get a solution here'.
6. In as much as educational institutions are important, they do not  
necessarily need to be neighbours with the parks. Even if a university  
is offering IT training, the students can come in from a distance..  
the most important thing is that the ICT industry keeps a channel and  
a partnership ongoing.
7.  The one reason why the park needs University partnership is not  
for "social responsibility" as some may want to think.  Companies need  
to make sure that prospective employees are getting knowledge that  
will make them resourceful when their training is done.
8.  The idea of a network of technoparks is a good one.. but so far, I  
have seen more politics at play than technical collaboration.

I do not have a very good handle on the situation in KE,

Just adding a few cents

Happy New Year

Nnenna
>> 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?

-- 
Nnenna Nwakanma
Director, nnenna.org
Consultants on Information, Communications, Technology
and Events for Development
(RCCM - CI-ABJ-2008-A-3.768)
Tel: +225 225 271 44
Fax: +225 224 264 71
Cel: +225 07 416 820
nnenna at nnenna.org
http://www.nnenna.org
http://nnennaorg.blogspot.com