[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Wed Jan 6 19:19:45 EAT 2010

All:

How many people are likely to attend? KIPPRA can offer space for about 30 persons.

Kind regards

Eric Aligula
Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: bitange at jambo.co.ke
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 19:04:49 
To: <jairah at kippra.or.ke>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Dear Liko,
Prof.  Waema provided the room at the University.  If that is too far,
could someone else suggest anywhere.

Regards

Ndemo.

> 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
>>>> 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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