[kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks

Sat Jan 9 12:40:28 EAT 2010

Hi good people,
Please note that I no longer control budgets except for my research
projects. I therefore cannot promise what I cannot deliver. I would also
like us to meet in a down-to-earth place - not those big and glossy hotels
with huge costs. All we want is to hear a presentation, have some discussion
and hopefully document it - with or without tea. My offer still stands. We
can even each "changa" KSh 100 - 200 and we will have tea and
mandazi/chapati/etc - the cost is not an issue. Dr. Ndemo - give us a date
and I will tell you the capacity of the room I can get that will be free
then. tim

On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Solomon Mburu Kamau
<solo.mburu at gmail.com>wrote:

> @ Tim, on a lighter note, if a guest comes to your home you don't tell
> them to provide their own meals, do you?
> On a more serious retrospect, this meeting should take place ASAP
> because there seems to be thirst of ideas on the existence of the park
> in the country. . I will take pictures and, if required, work on the
> report!
>
> On 06/01/2010, Mwololo Tim <timwololo at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 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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> >> > 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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>
> --
> Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau
> P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi
> Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041
>
> Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all
> the same way to the side of a hill!
>
> AND
>
> It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous
> generosity!
>
> http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com
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