Thursday, June 16, 2011

300,000 jobs expected from ICT Park

Minister of Communication, Haruna Iddrisu, says the US$10billion ICT Park when fully operational is expected to provide between 100,000 and 300,000 jobs.

The objective of the ICT Park is therefore to stimulate ICT start-ups and promote the growth of technology-intensive, knowledge-based businesses in the country.

The benefits of the Park include technology development and diffusion, stimulating the formation of new technology-based firms and the growth of existing technology-based firms, as well as facilitating the growth of SMEs. It will also spin off firms started by academics, thereby helping to commercialise academic researches.

The Park is to be located in the Tema Freezone enclave and will be developed in phases using the Public-Private Partnership model in collaboration between Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Communication.

It seeks to stimulate the private sector to invest in the provision of technology parks and other ICT infrastructure that provide the fuel for building wealth and job opportunities.

At a stakeholders’ workshop aimed at reviewing the draft drawings and designs of the ICT Park’s master-plan in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu said: “The ICT Parks worldwide played a critical role as intermediaries which supported knowledge-based economies and that they will become legacies for the country.”

He explained that the country has the potential to emerge as a major ICT-hub in the sub-region, adding that “we need more matured technology industries to thrive.
“One of the best ways to achieve this is to grow and enhance technology skills and knowledge in the country.”

Mr. Iddrisu indicated that the ICT industry has been identified as one of the sectors that can enhance economic growth by creating opportunities of employment to absorb the abundant talent pool and at the same time generate new and thriving partnership in the country.

He added that the IT-Enabled Services Secretariat under the e-Ghana Project has been specifically tasked to create a vibrant private sector/entrepreneurs and also attract and retain ITES/BPO foreign direct investment in the country.

“It is also expected that this will further increase employment in the ICT/Information Technology-Enabled Services/Business Process Outsourcing by attracting firms in the ICT Park.

“Besides the development of the ICT Park in Tema, government is also seeking funding for a proposed ICT Park in Cape Coast in the Central Region, which will be replicated in future in other regions to enhance the growth of the ICT industry.”

Mr. Iddrisu commended the support of the World Bank to the ICT project and also the members of Garland Ormond International of Ireland for their commitment to development of the first ICT technology park in the country, the benchmark of which is up to global standard.

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