About 200 Information Technology experts drawn from across the African continent have concluded their IT Infrastructure Summit in Cape Town, where issues on IT infrastructural challenges were at the centre of deliberations.
South Africa’s Science and Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor, delivered the keynote address while several IT experts, among others the chief information officers, IT heads and telecoms executives pondered how best to upgrade and install new IT infrastructures for the benefit of their respective countries.
The inaugural IT Infrastructure Summit was hosted and organised by Kinetic Events, a company that provides key strategic information to the IT and Telecoms sector in SA and Africa.
Addressing delegates Pandor said the summit, which was designed for business and government leaders, would help tackle the challenges centred on IT Infrastructure the continent was facing.
She said the only possible way to address the IT infrastructure challenges was through innovation, alignment of business with technology and the positive influence of active government participation.
“We are not on the frontier of IT innovation. We import technologies from abroad and adapt them for local use,” said Pandor.
Speaking at the same function, founder of ClearSpace Consulting, Derrick Plank, said IT Infrastructure was a contentious issue for corporates and governments alike, which should be addressed if Africa was ever to compete with developed economies.
“The mix of topics was interesting and relevant to IT Infrastructure managers wanting to increase their understanding of current and future trends. The IT Infrastructure Summit provides valuable insight into the changing landscape and is an event well worth planning into your scheduling,” said Plank.
Tintswalo Baloyi
