Durban ’ s ICT Strategy, A Change in Thinking ICT Cifal Workshop 18 May 2005

1. Enabler – Effectively enable an e-administration Financial systems E-procurement HR systems, etc – Enable an e-governance programme Internet portal Ability to access services electronically The city ’ s ICT strategy

2. Economic strategy to nurture / sustain an ICT Footprint – Use the city requirements around e-administration and e- governance as a tool to support the ICT Sector Build locally as opposed to procuring / sourcing externally Use of SMME’s on selected city projects Transition to a Knowledge Economy Strenghten Linkages to Durban’s knowledge - based resources – Cities core values serve as a guide in implementation of this strategy

Strategic Objectives E-Governance  Access to fast information flows that will allow innovative and flexible solutions  Affordability for local industries and SMME’s  Training of appropriate skills to match the requirements of the industry  Skills retention critical  To exploit eThekwini’s competitive advantages  Transformation of the sector to ensure equitable demographic representation.  Efficient and effective service delivery

Support local Promote SMME development Support black economic empowerment Partnerships for delivery / sustainability Keep cost of delivery as low as possible Specific to ICT Use open source solutions where possible Retain IP Share risk with our partners Some of the pertinent core values

Drivers  SA cannot afford to import the technology- too expensive  ICT’ s can provide a significant competitive advantage to firms  The sector is crosscutting and provides an enabling & empowering tool for many industries, especially in the area of logistics – a backbone of Durban’s competitive edge

 Large pool of educated unemployed people  The need to develop unique IT solutions for the local environment  Economic growth is driven by knowledge, skills, innovation, entrepreneurship & ICT’s  2010 Soccer World Cup will influence planning and implementation of ICT infrastructure.

Conditions for Success Clear strategy to drive implementation ICT must be tied to the overall vision and the key of objectives of the city Establish / nurture key partnerships An available skills base that you can grow Expansion & broad distribution of high capacity telecommunications infrastructure Develop applications that use this infrastructure to support the public good Not risk averse

City ’ s Comparative Advantages  Durban has the largest and most important port in Africa.  Large, diversified industrial and manufacturing sector  High degree of creativity, innovation in the city  Good ICT infrastructure in place  Best run City on the continent / good credit rating  Focussed city management team  Partnership efforts at stimulating knowledge industries is accelerating growth in several sectors: Business Process Outsourcing (BPO’s) Call centres

Comparative advantage allow for growth in specific areas ICT and electronics in logistics ICT in multi-media ICT in local government solutions BPO

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