The Cape IT Initiative (CITI) is to launch a forum for Cape-based IT companies to learn how to market their products and services in Europe, and prep them with the necessary tools for international expansion.
Called Cape Lab, the forum will be officially launched on 25 September with Willem van Biljon, group CEO of Mosaic Software; Greg Brophy, CEO of Itouch; and Derek Wilcocks, executive of strategy and technology at Dimension Data Western Cape. Each will share their "lessons learned" with the broader Western Cape ICT community at the inaugural event.
CITI says a series of Cape Lab events will be hosted during the last quarter of this year.
"Through the Cape Lab, CITI will assist the local IT community in raising awareness of the possibilities and pitfalls of expanding into overseas markets," says CITI executive director Masedi Molosiwa.
Cape Lab events include a series of seminars and workshops by industry champions on international expansion, legal issues and business development. It will also serve as a showcase of local products and services being developed in the Western Cape.
European-based executives will also deliver talks that offer insight into the dynamics of the European Union markets.
"Cape Town`s IT companies have the potential to service the European market," says Molosiwa. "They operate in the same time zone, have high quality IT skills, work in a creative and innovative city and benefit from the rand`s exchange rate."
South African products and services became extremely cheap on the international markets when the rand plunged by 37% against the dollar and other major currencies last year.
CITI says the Cape Lab idea grew out of a request by one of its members, Safmarine Computer Services.
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