ADDIS ABABA – The proper deployment of the data center service ecosystem catalyzes Ethiopia’s digital transformation and technology start-up, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MinT) said, mentioning its opportunity to the financial sector.
ICT Park in collaboration with Wingu Africa Group held a discussion yesterday under the theme “Optimizing the Opportunities of Data Center Service Ecosystem in IT Park to the Financial Sectors and Technology Start-Ups.”
Speaking at the occasion, MiNT Minister Belete Molla (PhD) stated that this engagement is timely and important as the country is implementing a digital transformation with infrastructure and building and accelerating its digital economy ecosystem. As part of supporting this initiative, the government has included data centers and other related digital sectors in the investment incentive regulation.
In the last three years, more than five data centers have issued investment applications to invest in the country. Belete said, “The Government has also enacted various regulations such as e-transaction, Personal Data Protection to facilitate Digital Businesses.”
“The government is more committed to make the ICT Park which contributes a lot to the digital transformation of the country and to make it more convenient to the private sector working in the digital sector,” he added.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment to hold improvements to optimize the ICT Park, which has the potential to play a crucial role in Ethiopia’s Digital transformation journey. “The park is well-positioned to attract and support data center service providers and other digital businesses providing access to reliable and affordable power, secure and stable operating environment among others.”
Stating the data centers, which are in the pipeline to provide services at the ICT Park, he called on partners and other stakeholders to utilize them well. Wingu Africa Group Country Director Teshome Worku for his part mentioned his company’s desire to take the opportunity to use it as a playfield to communicate with the partners and customers to display its state-of-the art facility located in ‘IT Park.’ The firm has been operational for the last 18 months in the special technology zone.
According to him, data centers are highly important for private financial sectors including banks to minimize high cost of infrastructural development, capital expenditure, operational cost and hard currency glitches as well. It was also indicated that the facility is the first- of- its- kind in Ethiopia and currently operating in four East African countries.
Teshome called on relevant partners who have a stake in the digitization arena to explore the opportunities of business relations, service maximization, robust infrastructure and other networking platforms. Financial sector actors, data center service providers, developmental partners and start-up innovators were in attendance in the event.
BY ASHENAFIANIMUT
The Ethiopian Herald November 9/2023
