I feel compelled to add my 2 cents on this. I work for a company in the US that has a pretty investment in India and are now moving to China and Poland. I once asked why they were not considering Africa especially Kenya and on top of the usual reasons - political instability, levels of education, poverty etc this is the biggest problem they cited for Kenya: No adequate power - IT and BPO business can not stand gray outs. My two cents Joe Joseph Manthi CEO, MEO Ltd 603 320 2924 On Feb 21, 2008, at 8:03 AM, "Peres Were" <pwere@cascadegl.com> wrote:
Brian
You have raised a pertinent question. This is my take:
There has been heavy investment in the creation of Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Kenya, but the Government and the private sector should now consider developing Technology Parks, which will serve as centres for innovation and growth of the technology industry in Kenya.
Future Technology Parks in Kenya must establish collaboration with other technological centres around the world, the same way that Taiwan did with Silicon Valley, resulting in the huge growth of technology industry in Taiwan. Currently, Taiwanese patents now rank among the highest in the US market.
The challenges facing Kenya's development as a technological hub today are no different from those that countries like India and Thailand faced 20 years ago. These countries recognised the role of innovation as a key driver of competitiveness in business, investment and new venture creation in their economies.
There has to be a resolve by the Kenya Government to create systems that will nurture and encourage technological innovation and investment and push the country towards a knowledge-based economy. The Ministry of Science and Technology must place more emphasis on the management and shaping of innovation and R&D in Kenya.
The impressive achievements of the high-tech sector in Asian countries are primarily as a result of national policies that have encouraged inward investment in technology and innovation.
Kenya needs to develop a National System of Innovation. This can be achieved through increased linkages between the Government, business sector, the research community and academic institutions in pursuit of innovative ways of increasing Kenya's competitive advantage to make the country a dynamic and exciting world-class hub for technology investment and R& D.
Peres Were Managing Director