The Western Cape’s Information and communications technology (ICT) sector is in talks with leading African investors and tech incubators to establish a network of tech incubators across the continent.
The Western Cape Government in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers recently returned from a mission to Ghana and Nigeria to present the province’s African Incubation Partnership strategy.
Alan Winde, MEC of Economic Opportunities, said the Western Cape Government’s African Incubation Partnership would link incubators across the continent, delivering a boost for local tech entrepreneurs.
ICT is one of the Western Cape’s priority sectors, employing 30 000 people and contributing R3 billion to our annual Gross domestic product (GDP).
MEC Winde was speaking today, 23 July 2014 at the PricewaterhouseCoopers Vision to Reality awards, which recognises South Africa’s most innovative companies.
The Western Cape Government has been working with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Bandwidth Barn to develop the African Incubation Partnership model.
Key priorities of the concept are to increase market access for ICT entrepreneurs and skills transfer between the sectors in different countries.
When travelling to partner regions, entrepreneurs will be able to access services at the local incubator as well as valuable networking opportunities.
Following the successful trips to Nigeria and Ghana, angel investors and tech incubators from those countries are set to sign the final African Incubation Partnership agreement.
“I want to see a Bandwidth Barn in every African country. The Barn has created 2 500 jobs and contributed R800 million to our economy thus far. The Bandwidth Barn has become a centre for ICT innovation because it’s a great environment for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas. The African Incubation Partnership strengthens our brand as the broadband hub for Africa and creates a gateway for South African start-ups to sell their ideas to the rest of continent," said MEC Winde.
For media queries, kindly contact:
Bronwynne Jooste
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
E-mail: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
