Indian tech firms in Nairobi to scout for deals

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru. (Photo: File/Standard)

Over 300 tech companies and 2,000 conference participants are in Nairobi for the three-day Indo-Africa ICT Expo.

The Expo, which was opened Thursday by Ministry of ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and India’s Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha, is aimed at deepening cooperation between African countries and India in the area of technology.

Mucheru called upon Kenyan businesses to tap into the huge reservoir of knowledge among their Indian counterparts and develop technology based solutions for the Kenyan, African and even the global market.

He also noted that there are numerous opportunities for partnerships between both public and private sectors of Kenya and India.

“India and Africa continue to witness exponential growth in the telecommunication and information technology segments. It is thus essential to evaluate the areas where the two regions can cooperate so as to further enhance the lives of our people through technology,” said Mucheru.

It is the second time that Nairobi is hosting the Indo-Africa ICT Expo. In addition to the exhibition and conference, representatives from Kenyan and Indian companies will hold business to business talks, which are expected to yield partnerships in the area of technology.

India’s Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha said it was paramount for India and Africa to forge mutually beneficial ties. He noted that while India had proven its capabilities in the ICT sector and is acknowledged as a preferred destination for ICT services including outsourced Research & Development, Africa too is emerging as an innovation hotspot, with many of local innovations being taken and by other regions including developed countries.

India has an agile ICT sector whose software, outsourcing, hardware and electronic manufacturing trade contributes $120 billion to their economy annually.

“Given the large domestic demand for telecom equipment in India, Indian companies are now using innovation and R&D to create world class products for India as well as for other emerging markets having similar needs like Africa,” said Sinha.

Africa countries and India are in a joint venture initiative dubbed Pan African e-Network Project (PAENP). The Project is aimed at supporting tele-education, tele-medicine, e-commerce, e-governance, resource mapping and meteorological services.

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