Bandwidth Barn joins Africa tech lab network
The Western Cape’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Africa Expansion Strategy received a major boost with the Bandwidth Barn’s induction into a leading network of African tech hubs. Alan Winde, MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, congratulated the Bandwidth Barn following their induction into the Afrilabs network of African technology hubs.
Afrilabs links tech labs on the continent and aims to promote and develop the African ICT sector through collaboration. MEC Winde said the move was key to the Western Cape’s Africa Expansion Strategy.
“The key benefit of expanding our ICT sector into Africa is that it will create a gateway for local tech start-ups to build partnerships with companies across the continent. It’s a new market to which our entrepreneurs can sell their ideas. We’re also building the Western Cape as an African hub for ICT. Through our broadband roll-out, the Western Cape is leading Africa’s IT revolution,” said MEC Winde.
MEC Winde said the roll-out of a Bandwidth Barn in every African country was another possibility of the expansion strategy.
“In the past year, the Bandwidth Barn assisted 89 businesses, the majority of which are still bringing growth and jobs to our economy. Without the assistance of the Bandwidth Barn, these entrepreneurs would have had a one-in-five chance of survival. Between 2006 and 2011, the revenue generated by the Bandwidth Barn graduates increased by 142%,” said MEC Winde.
For media queries:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for MEC Alan Winde
Cell: 082 454 4365
Tel: 021 483 3550
Email: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
