Dimension Data, a global IT solutions and services company, today announced it has acquired a 51% stake in ICL East Africa (ICLEA), the leading provider of end-to-end IT systems and services in the East African region.
The partnership of ICL and Dimension Data encompasses three East African countries - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This partnership also marks the launch of Dimension Data Kenya (which will be the regional headquarters for Dimension Data`s East African operations), Dimension Data Tanzania and Dimension Data Uganda.
ICLEA is a member of the Sameer Group, a leading economic force in East Africa with major investments and successful operating companies in all key business sectors. The Sameer Group has over 30 years experience in Kenya`s industrial and commercial development.
"Dimension Data and ICLEA are aligned both with regards to the IT services and solutions that we offer and from an organisational cultural perspective," commented Naushad Merali, Group Executive Chairman, Sameer Group.
"As the largest IT supplier in Kenya, partnering with a global organisation such as Dimension Data will combine global best practice with local expertise and knowledge to deliver an offering to current and future clients that cannot be matched in the region."
ICLEA has an employee complement of over 60 across the East Africa region (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and all will be employed by Dimension Data in their respective countries. ICLEA has been operating profitably since 1930 and is the only company in East Africa to have ISO9001 certification.
Andile Ngcaba, Chairman, Dimension Data Africa, said: "The partnership with ICLEA, and our physical entry into the region with the launch of Dimension Data Kenya, further strengthens Dimension Data`s capabilities throughout the African continent. With regional headquarters now established in the northern, southern, eastern and western areas of the continent, geographically we are now able to deliver our solutions and services more effectively and efficiently to many more countries. The large population bases together with the predicted growth in terms of IT adoption to aid the economic and social development of these regions signals significant opportunities for us."
ICLEA has partnerships with leading IT companies including Fujitsu-Siemens, Sun, IBM hardware, Cisco, 3Com, Oracle, Microsoft and Cisco. The company also has a solid client base including Barclays Kenya, Celtel, Telkom Kenya, Standard Chartered Bank Ltd, Nestle Foods and Coca-Cola East and Central Africa.
Dimension Data`s offering to the East Africa market includes the majority of solutions that Dimension Data offers globally enabling Dimension Data in this region to draw on the skills and expertise of the 1 800 employee strong South Africa base, and an additional 7 000 employees located in 36 countries around the world.
The solutions offered by Dimension Data in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda include: network integration, converged communications, operating environments and messaging, security and data centres and storage.
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