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SA lobbies for 'ICT Olympics'

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 23 Jul 2014
SA needs buy-in from all stakeholders, says World Information Technology and Services Alliance secretary general Jim Poisant.
SA needs buy-in from all stakeholders, says World Information Technology and Services Alliance secretary general Jim Poisant.

The IT Association of SA (ITA) is lobbying industry to pull together a last-minute bid for the 2018 World Congress on Information Technology, which - if won - has the potential to add to the local economy.

Yet, the IT industry, which seems in favour of hosting what has been colloquially called the ICT Olympics, has just one month to persuade all stakeholders to pull together, and get its bid in. The congress is held every two years and, in September, will take place in Mexico before moving to Brazil.

The global event, which attracts more than 2 000 IT professionals from 80 countries, has never before been held in Africa, which could work in SA's favour, says World Information Technology and Services Alliance (Witsa) secretary general Jim Poisant. Poisant was addressing about 40 senior members of industry at a breakfast in Sandton this morning.

The breakfast, organised by Witsa member body the ITA, was arranged to secure support for SA's bid. ITA executive member Roger Latchman explains Witsa, founded in 1978, represents about 90% of global IT spend, and its role includes advocacy and building global trade.

Poisant adds its vision is to "fulfil the promise of the digital age" by ensuring every child can benefit from ICT. He notes the global ICT industry is worth around $4.3 trillion.

Buy-in

However, winning the right to hold the congress - which will cost between $4 million and $10 million to run - depends on total commitment from all stakeholders within the bidding country, says Poisant.

Latchman notes state entities, such as provincial government, Joburg Tourism and South African Airways, are already on-board. There was also a strong show of hands indicating support during the breakfast. "This is probably as big as the Fifa Soccer World Cup."

Among the benefits of being the host country are the millions that should be spent in a few days by delegates, and the chance a foreign company will open a unit in SA, creating jobs, says Poisant. He adds such a conference will shine a spotlight on SA and aid the country to network its products globally.

Currently, three other countries have indicated they will be bidding, including Armenia, India and one Poisant could not name.

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