Zimpapers Logo

Visitors enter the venue of the e-Tech Expo on Tuesday

The e-Tech Africa Expo 2014 kicked off at the Harare International Conference Centre this week with the first two days being reserved for business to business interactions.The four-day expo, which is being organised by the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services will be officially opened today by Vice President Joice Mujuru.

This year’s expo is being held under the theme, “Promoting Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth Through ICTs”.

It is crafted around eight main focus areas. These include software development and products manufacturing, ICT strategies, audits and infrastructure development, research into new technologies, cyber security, cloud computing, ICT resource optimisation through the accelerator programs, e-learning and payment systems.

A total of 35 local ICT players are exhibiting and these include local internet access providers, internet service providers, device manufacturers and resellers, customer-related management support and providers of technological training.

This is a slight decline from the 40 exhibitors that were at last year’s show, a factor that was attributed to the absence of foreign exhibitors at this year’s show because it was organised in a short space of time.

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Webster Shamu said the theme was linked to the goals of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

“This theme, ladies and gentlemen, resonates well with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation which treats ICT as one of the pillars for the growth of the economy.

“It is my fervent belief that the Expo will provide a platform for African countries to showcase their ICT brands, projects and explore trade and investment opportunities.

“This is a unique opportunity for the Government, the private sector, ICT players to come together to share experiences, achievements and developmental ideas,” he said in a statement ahead of the opening of the event.

e-Tech Africa was initially launched in October 2012 and has grown into one of the foremost platforms to discuss ICTs in the country.

The writer is the editor with TechnoMag, Zimbabwe’s premier technology magazine, more on www.technomag.co.zw or join us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/technomagzw. He can be contacted at technomag.co.zw or you can tweet @TechnoMagZw