Opinion
Kenya, a crucible of technology and business
Indeed, a recent study by the World Bank shows that information and communications technology accounts for 2 percent of the GDP growth rate in Kenya annually. It is in this respect that there are multiple efforts to drive down the cost of broadband.
An increasing number of young people are leveraging the Internet to create new entrepreneurial opportunities. The nascent innovation hubs in Nairobi are fueling development of new applications, especially on mobile platforms, to create efficiencies across all sectors.
Costa Rica, India and Mauritius have shown how countries can harness global demand for business process outsourcing (BPO). Kenya is positioning itself to join the wave as a way to provide employment for our youth, who are educated but lack jobs. It is only a matter of time before the country takes up the opportunity and challenges the major players.
In 2008, KenCall, one of our major BPO players, won the best non-European call center award at the European Call Center Awards. It was a milestone for the sector.
The main thrust of Kenya’s technology drive is to ease communication with the rest of the globe’s economies. Money movement, e-commerce and the fast movement of information about goods and services will enable Kenya to become part of global supply chains.
Inexpensive and ubiquitous telecommunications have finally obliterated all impediments to international competition, but the dawning ‘flat world’ will not necessarily be economically stable. This calls for the creation of a class of rugged and adaptable entrepreneurs.
Companies in the service sector – telemarketing, accounting, computer programming, engineering, scientific research, etc. – will continue to outsource their activities, and this is Kenya’s opportunity to grasp.
