The Konza City Business Forum brought together representatives from government and the private sector in various industries including infrastructure, hospitality, ICT, retail and finance who discussed ways of ensuring a successful takeoff the project.
Speaking during the forum ICT principal secretary Joseph Tiampati said that a successful delivery of Kenya’s flagship tech city would serve to make the country an ICT hub.
“The developments we are currently seeing in the ICT sector have been the result of years of planning, hard work and investment in our ICT infrastructure. Growing interest in Konza City, our US$7 billion techno city and most ambitious infrastructure project is proof that once realised, this development will cement our position as Africa’s ICT hub,” he said.
He said the forum will also play a big part in the convincing of investors to inject money into the project, which needs an estimated US$7 billion.
“However, for this to become a reality, we need investors willing to put their time and money into Konza and to hold the Government to account to ensure that we complete this project on schedule,” he added.
Vision 2030 director general Mugo Kibati said the forum would help shape the opinion of the private sector towards the project.
“We are very pleased that Capital Club East Africa saw it fit to have this forum for its members, because it is business leaders like you who shape the development agenda of this country. What we envision with Konza, is bigger than the realization of one country’s ICT dreams; it is the realization of a continent’s belief in its potential and the result of synergy between the Government and the private sector,” said the director general.
Among the various opportunities discussed included real estate development, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT-enabled services, the development going green, financial services, transport, education and ICT, recreation facilities and community support services among others.
“The opportunities for investment in this country are immense, and we feel that Capital Club offers value to its members by providing platforms for meaningful cross-sector interaction,” said Capital Club East Africa general manager Andrew Christon.
“Bringing together professionals from various sectors and linking them to those in charge of turning the Konza dream from a concept to a reality is something that will not only benefit the members of the Club, but the country as well because Konza City is not a project for a few; it is for the entire country.”