By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG – INFORMATION technology and networking firm, Cisco, is upbeat at the opportunities and innovation present in the African market.
According to Hilton Romanski, Cisco’s Chief Strategy Officer, expressed optimism after addressing some of the top leaders in Africa’s ICT industry at the Cisco Connect South Africa, sponsored by Intel.
His remarks reinforced the company’s commitment to the continent, emphasizing that it has all the resources, talent and technology to be a global leader in digital innovation and transformation.
“Technology presents many opportunities and challenges for Africa as the fastest urbanising region in the world,” said Romanski.
“Cisco recognises the pipeline of African talent and we are deeply involved in enabling the widespread emergence of tech ecosystems across the continent.”
According to the United Nations, within the next 20 years Africa’s working age population is expected to be over one billion.
This is larger than China’s or India’s.
While only 2 percent of the African economy is currently composed of Internet-related services, this figure is expected to grow to 7 percent or $315 billion by 2025.
With the Cisco Networking Academy — an IT skills and career building programme for learning institutions and individuals worldwide — Cisco is enabling African workers to be valued contributors to the digital economy.
Through its products and services, the company is also equipping and advising companies, cities, provinces and nations to build, secure and improve digital technologies to drive economic growth and efficiencies.
Romanski highlighted Africa was geographically in the centre of the world, between the East and West, and an emerging powerhouse of the Global South.
“Technology holds the chance for Africa to build more open societies and for some countries to leapfrog others.”
– CAJ News