Eastern Cape
South Africa
Sector
ICT - Information & Communication Technology
Government has identified the information and communication technology (ICT) sector as strategically important to the growth and prosperity of South Africa’s economy. It is a sector which is ranked amongst the top five in South Africa in terms of its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).
South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a key driver for ICT investment and project planning. While global telecommunication brands such as Siemens, Alcatel, SBC Communications, Telecom Malaysia and Vodafone have already made significant investments, it is expected similar investments will continue.
Investment opportunities lie in the development of access control systems and security equipment, automotive electronic subsystems, systems and software development in the banking and financial services sector, silicon processing for fibre optics, integrated circuits and solar cells. There are also significant opportunities for the export of hardware and associated services as well as software and peripherals.
Commercial and economic activity in the Eastern Cape is concentrated in the Buffalo City (East London) and Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) metropoles. Each city has an ICT hub.
ICT opportunities
Technology incubator: Support for IT and internet entrepreneurs through a technology park, supported by a university ICT faculty
Telecommunications: business process outsourcing (BPO)
IT professional services: including custom software application development and maintenance
Computer software: packaged software products – cross industry and vertical market applications
Educational project: mass production of low-cost laptop for educational use
Voice over IP (VoIP)
Wireless software: financial transactions over mobile phones
Electronics opportunities
Automotive electronics: manufacture
of electronic systems and control modules, navigation systems and instruments
Consumer electronics: TV, radio and communications assembly in IDZs for export
IT hardware, CD and cell phone manufacture
Machine tools
Motor relays and pre-payment metering: locally developed expertise for the payment of electricity and water bills
Electrical machinery: electronic equipment and appliances, electric transformers, electric hair care devices, portable electric lamps, electric hairdryers, electric coffee and tea makers and electric toasters.
Benefits of investing at the IDZ
- First class infrastructure
- Close proximity to transport networks
- Expertise and knowledge from industry role players in East London (universities IT departments, Business Connexion, Dimension Data and Telkom)
For more information on opportunities at the East London IDZ, contact Ms Ayanda Ramncwana:
Tel: +27 42 702 8200
Email: ayanda@elidz.co.za
