SA ICT stars at CeBIT

Trade and industry minister Rob Davies makes a cameo appearance in the video.

Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering at Wits University, who assisted the producers of the video in developing the script, explains: “The ICT sector in SA is not well-known internationally. People don't understand how innovative and competent South African ICT companies are.

“They don't appreciate that we've been developing great IT applications in SA for decades. Nor do they understand that SA is a modern technological society, with impressive First World infrastructure and institutions. The video aims to debunk these misconceptions about SA and its ICT sector,” adds Dwolatzky.

The video screening took place at a wine tasting reception, hosted by the DTI and exhibitors at the SA Pavilion, at CeBIT. Representatives of the South African ICT sector were able to meet potential partners from around the world at this reception.

Dwolatzky, who is at CeBIT representing the SA Electrotrechnical Export Council, says: “The reception on Wednesday allowed us to use the new video to showcase the strengths of our ICT sector alongside our famous wine and hospitality.”

On tape

Dwolatzky says the video follows the journey of “Lars”, a Norwegian businessman, who arrives in SA to investigate the ICT sector. Lars visits large and small companies in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, and meets some of the key players in South African ICT.

At IBM, he discovers there is a call centre in Johannesburg providing technical support to European users. The MD of Vodacom tells him cellphone pre-payment is a South African innovation. He visits Mxit, in Stellenbosch, and UEC, in Durban.

At each stop, Lars learns more about the South African ICT sector and what it has to offer international partners. He is also shown meeting and discussing the ICT sector with trade and industry minister Rob Davies in his office in Cape Town, adds Dwolatzky.

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