Kenya signs a 3-Year funding deal with Dutch government to help grow ICT sector
The Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA), through the Ministry of ICT has today signed a 3-year funding project extended by the Government of Netherlands aimed at growing the ICT sector.
The US$ 1.2 Million funding according to ICTA is aimed at enhancing the export competitiveness of Kenyan IT & ITEs companies and will also go towards the implementation of the ICT Masterplan 2017.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Mr Joseph Tiampati, PS Ministry of ICT said said Kenya ICT business is already at the tipping point of Africa transformation and this has made Kenyan businesses expand beyond the borders. He said the Kenyan government was committed to see grow.
”As the government we are committed to supporting Kenyan businesses zeal to expand in an organized way. That’s why the development of an export strategy and the operationalization of the ICT Masterplan is an important deliverable of this partnership with the Dutch government.” he said
“As the ministry responsible for promoting international trade, we are happy to have ICT companies as part of the country’s champions who we will include in our promotion activities in our economic diplomacy engagements.” Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Ambassador Amina Mohammed who was also present during the signing said.
Through the programme, 33 Kenyan ICT start-ups and SME’s will be supported in expanding and launching their businesses in foreign markets. The 33 emerged successful after they applied for the support in November 2014. The Kenyan companies will benefit from the promotion of high-value IT&ITES exports and the establishment of long-term business relationships.
“Kenya is in a unique position to export business services within East Africa and the rest of the world, Mr. Prof. Rob Van Eijbergen, Special Representative International Relations, Centre for Promotion of Imports (CBI) said.
This initiative is supported by the Netherlands Trust Fund phase III (NTF III), which is a programme funded by the Dutch government.
The NTF III project is a three-year partnership agreement between the Kenya, Ministry of Information Communications and Technology, International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI). It will be implemented by the ICT Authority. Other beneficiary of the programme is Kenyan IT and Outsourcing Society (KITOS).
ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transitioning economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the Millennium Development Goals.
The project is aimed at creating jobs, increasing exports by Kenyan companies and empowering the capability of youth and women.
Key benefits from the support include will include training and advisory services e.g. on export marketing and access to finance, market linkages through facilitating B2B matchmaking events in Europe and Africa as well as participation in trade fairs organized in Kenya and/or target IT&ITES market and Promotion activities through online and offline media
Prof. Rob Van Eijbergen said the programme will conduct similar activities in Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda, he added.
