BusyInternet, a venture started by US entrepreneur Mark Davies, is hoping to promote IT in Africa through the creation of numerous IT innovation centres, the first of which is due to open tomorrow in Accra, Ghana. It will also establish a Web site for African IT companies.
The $2 million, 18 000 square foot technology development centre will feature satellite Internet connectivity, offices and meeting rooms available for short- or long-term rental by IT start-ups. An Internet caf'e will service public Internet access.
The project is funded by US and Ghanaian investors, including Hewlett-Packard, Fidelity Investment Advisors, Databank Financial Services, BusyInternet International and SOFT.
"Our vision is to stimulate social and economic development in emerging markets through the adoption of information technologies," says Davies, co-founder of First Tuesday Europe and the US-based CitySearch. "This investment in Ghana is a key step for our company and for Ghana."
The centre`s opening ceremony coincides with the start of Ghana`s ITAfrica Fair, with over 50 of the country`s IT companies exhibiting at the show.
The company is also launching the ITAfrica.org Web site, a database of IT companies in Africa. ITAfrica.org hopes to attract Web developers, network specialists, hardware resellers, Internet service providers, software developers, initiatives and events. Leading personalities in the industry will host the various sections, and listing is free.
BusyInternet hopes to open similar hubs in Tunis, Lagos, Abuja and Dakar in the future.
External links:
www.busyinternet.com
www.itafrica.org
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