[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Wed Jan 6 10:14:30 EAT 2010

Hi all,
I can book an appropriate room in the University for such a meeting, as long
as I will not fund anything else. Perhaps someone can fund tea/coffee. tim

On 1/5/10, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>   Hi,
>
> Dr. Ndemo has brought up an interesting issue, when can he be available to
> give us a presentation on the concept paper, I propose we individually meet
> the cost of the venue and refreshments.
>
> The University of Nairobi would be an ideal and relevant location.
>
> Any takers?
>
> 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, bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke>* wrote:
>
>
>
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: [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, 13:15
>
>  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<http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>[mailto:
> bitange at jambo.co.ke<http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>
> ]
> > Sent: 30 December 2009 13:15
> > To: Victor Gathara
> > Cc: bitange at jambo.co.ke<http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>;
> 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<http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>* 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
> >> 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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