Cisco is moving its main Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) conference out of Europe and into SA.
It will also rebrand the SA event, to be held in Johannesburg in November, to reflect uniformity with former European and current US event brands.
While this has warmed industry hearts, it also raised eyebrows. Industry sources asked whether this meant the company feared disruption from warring states too close to home, or whether SA could simply pat itself on the back as it takes centre stage in increasing numbers of world and regional events.
Marketing and communications manager for Cisco SA, Claudia Nieckau, says by way of setting the context that there are three events under Cisco`s aegis to take note of. In Africa, there is the annual Cisco Expo Africa, "one of the largest such events in Africa, and one with clear success, given the numbers of delegates attending each year".
By comparison, the US and EMEA have staged Networkers USA and Networkers EMEA, she says. "Cisco has decided to change the focus and branding of the SA event to Networkers Africa, planning to stage this in November this year, in Johannesburg."
The SA event will take on an African and South African complexion, says Nieckau, "but we will receive European delegates as well".
At the last SA-based event, Cisco counted 1 000 delegates, but with the influx of European visitors, this year`s should attract 1 800 to 2 000, she adds.
Since it is more or less unprecedented that Africa gets top billing over Europe (the European event routinely attracts 2 800 to 3 000 delegates), ITWeb asked Nieckau whether this meant the vendor was taking precautionary measures to ensure the event ran smoothly on remoter, non-aligned ground.
Nieckau denies this is the case. "For one thing, it has been planned since last year," she says. "We are looking at two venues, and cannot make an announcement until we`re satisfied our choice is the best one we can make."
She says Cisco was keen to try new venues for the event, and since the last African conference was successful, it had decided to move it here. "Also, we are all part of the same theatre," she says.
Whatever the driving force behind this, it augurs well for SA, which, commentators agree, will be less affected than most other regions even by protracted war efforts in the Middle East, and is increasingly seen as an attractive international destination.
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