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<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dr
Ndemo,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial size=2>The following is an
excerpt for a paper I wrote on the impact of the arrival of sub-marine
fibre in East Africa(<A
href="http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/workingpapers/Gathero.doc">http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/workingpapers/Gathero.doc</A>).
In it I suggest we adopt consultant Booz Allen Hamilton's six levers for
successful development of an ICT park strategy for Kenya. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial
size=2>______________________</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=037464906-30122009>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>ICT Parks<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><FONT
face=Arial><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Kenya</SPAN></st1:country-region></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">’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 -</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">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</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">. GoK has undertaken the </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">creation
of one such park in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Athi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. 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</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Booz Allen Hamilton has reviewed the learning from
global experiences and suggests six main levers for the successful development
of ICT parks:<A title="" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1"
href="outbind://20/#_ftn1" name=_ftnref1><SPAN class=MsoFootnoteReference><SPAN
style="mso-special-character: footnote"><SPAN class=MsoFootnoteReference><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=1>[1]</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A></SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-ansi-language: EN"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Athi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> should be clearly
articulated.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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 <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Athi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType> as
a choice location with its distance from <st1:City w:st="on">Nairobi</st1:City>,
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Daystar</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Jomo</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Kenyatta</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">International</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Airport</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. 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. <BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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.<BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face=Arial>• 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 <st1:place w:st="on">Arabian Peninsula</st1:place>, 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 <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Smart</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Villages</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> having planned presences in <st1:City
w:st="on">Giza</st1:City> (<st1:City w:st="on">Cairo</st1:City>), Mansoura
(<st1:City w:st="on">Cairo</st1:City>), and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:City></st1:place>. The <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Athi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> 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.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-ansi-language: EN"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV style="mso-element: footnote-list"><BR clear=all><FONT face=Arial>
<HR align=left width="33%" SIZE=1>
</FONT>
<DIV id=ftn1 style="mso-element: footnote">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><A title=""
style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" href="outbind://20/#_ftnref1" name=_ftn1><SPAN
class=MsoFootnoteReference><SPAN style="mso-special-character: footnote"><SPAN
class=MsoFootnoteReference><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=1>[1]</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A><SPAN
class=MsoFootnoteReference><FONT face=Arial size=1> Booz Allen Hamilton: ICT
parks offer a fast-track development approach for the Middle East, </FONT><A
href="http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"><FONT
face=Arial
size=1>http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html</FONT></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoFootnoteText style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2><STRONG>Victor Gathara</STRONG><FONT
color=#c0c0c0>|</FONT> UK Department for International Development<FONT
color=#c0c0c0>|</FONT> Regional IS Manager , East Africa<FONT
color=#c0c0c0>|</FONT> <FONT face=Wingdings>*</FONT><FONT face=Arial>
</FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#008080>email:</FONT> <FONT face=Arial
color=#808080><A title=mailto:v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="mailto:v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk"
target=_blank>v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk</A></FONT> <FONT face=Wingdings>(</FONT>
<FONT face=Arial color=#008080>Telephone:</FONT> <FONT face=Arial
color=#808080>+254 20 2873349</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT><FONT
face=Wingdings>(</FONT> <FONT face=Arial color=#008080>Fax:</FONT> <FONT
face=Arial color=#808080>+254 20 2873102 </FONT><FONT
face=Wingdings>)</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#008080>Ftn:</FONT><FONT color=#808080> </FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#808080>8300 3349</FONT><FONT face=Arial> </FONT><FONT
face=Wingdings>)</FONT><FONT face=Arial> </FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#008080>Mobile</FONT><FONT face=Arial>:</FONT><FONT face=Arial
color=#808080> +254 733</FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#808080> 414846
</FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#008080>url:</FONT><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#808080><A
title=http://www.dfid.gov.uk/
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk/"
target=_blank>www.dfid.gov.uk</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at http://www.dfid.gov.uk. <BR>
<BR>
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.<BR>
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