IBM set sights on Africa

[EMBEDDD]Tech giant IBM plans to open 10 new offices in Africa, bringing its total branches on the continent to 35 by 2015, as it starts operations in Senegal, Tanzania and Angola, reports Bloomberg.

According to Mamadou Ndiaye, director general of IBM Senegal, the tech giant has invested $300 million in new Africa operations since 2006.

By 2015, the world's biggest computer services provider expects to operate in at least 23 countries on the continent, says Gary Carroll, IBM's GM of Africa Geo-Expansion.

IBM also wants to tap into Africa's growing mobile banking market by working with telcos on the continent, states The San Francisco Chronicle.

The company expects to increase IT spending and to expand 47% to $12.5 billion by 2015.

According to Business Week, in Senegal, IBM is vying for contracts to improve management of the nation's energy grid, says Ndiaye.

It currently runs a customs-collection monitoring system at Senegal's borders.