Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations organized discussion on the benefits of newly established ICT Industry Park to local business for its members. Incentives the government identified for companies joining the park are not implemented; it was indicated on the occasion. The event took place at Hilton Addis on December 22, 2016.
A CEO of Africom technology, which is one of the companies in the park, had a presentation on the advantages of working in the park as well as the challenges faced.
There is fast internet connectivity within the park, power supply is good, land lease price is very low, the CEO, Ato Baheru Zeyenu, said. Moving on to challenges he said, government incentives are not implemented yet, funding for knowledge and ideas is problematic.
Participants have also expressed their part. Although internet connectivity within the park is good, interface with outside is difficult. The government plans 300 000 jobs to be created within the park and yet it is not explained how that is possible. Problems of park facility management, transport, and security were also raised.
The park helps for networking and sharing badly needed infrastructure, Ato Beheru said. While a government official responding to a question regarding requirement to enter park said that being export oriented, creating jobs, and import substitution are important considerations for the government.