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Hi,
This is interesting, but note that Daystar does not offer any
technology degrees thus there is no university near the proposed Park
making Eldoret more favourable.
Athi River/Kitengela currently have some of the highest electricity
consumers namely the cement companies and the EPZ which would create
additional pressure of power. Having the ICT Park elsewhere would
allow the development of clean power generation such as wind and
solar.
Why do you need an International airport, I thought software does not
require physical delivery.
Nairobi is the problem here, it has too many issues such as high cost
of living, strain on its infrastructure and continued adhoc growth a
condition that also ails Athi River, Machakos and Kitengela. We need
to make a clean break, this City is terminal no need throwing good money
after bad.
I like your analysis but we need to localise the issues and not buy
the text book recommendations blindly. Lets use this opportunity to
create a new City that will be planned right and in an area where there
are fewer vested interests.
Again I ask, can the ICTBoard & the Ministry provide us with the
master plan for the ICT Park so that we can continue this discussion in a
more enlightened way.
Regards
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, Victor
Gathara <v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk> wrote:
From:
Victor Gathara <v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk>
Subject: [kictanet] My
2cts: ICT Parks
To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT
Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date:
Wednesday, 30 December, 2009, 6:59
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.
______________________
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:
• 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.
Victor Gathara| UK Department for International Development| Regional IS Manager , East Africa| *
email: v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk
( Telephone: +254 20
2873349 ( Fax: +254 20 2873102 ) Ftn: 8300 3349
) Mobile: +254 733 414846 url: 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.
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