Hello

I am driving an initiative aimed at creating a partnership between several
South African cities, academic institutions, private sector organisations
and community (citizens), looking specifically at utilising the city as a
platform for digital transformation - aimed at developing solution aimed at
solving African problems, while also building the skills and competencies
needed for the 4th industrial revolution.

One of the cities that we are working closely with is the City of Cape
Town. I am the ex-CIO of Cape Town and the founder of the City’s Smart City
strategy. Cape Town is well placed to become the leading African digital
city (this is the Mayor’s ambition). It has a strong 15 year history of
digitisation; it has a solid infrastructure and skillset that has been
built in this time (probably the best in the country); it has seen massive
benefit from its investment in ICT and many of its directorates are willing
to invest more as they understand the benefits; the broadband
infrastructure currently being rolled out (by the city and province)
creates massive opportunity for the city; it is home to many talented,
innovative people who all want to contribute to making the city a success;
etc. In addition there is huge opportunity to directly impact on the lives
of citizens and help make businesses more effective and efficient. In fact,
Cape Town is well positioned to provide leadership (and hope) to the rest
of the country at a time when this is desperately needed.

However, for this to happen, a different approach will need to be embarked
upon. This approach needs to cut across government, citizens and the
economy. This approach is not currently being followed due to a variety of
factors. Becoming Africa’s leading digital city will need a bold,
co-ordinated and integrated approach that will cut across the whole of
society. This approach needs to leverage the core strategic infrastructure
and services that has already been put in place by government to enable its
service delivery, while figuring out how to extend and integrate it to
achieve benefits to the citizens and businesses in the City.

African Ideas is working with the City and other partners (academic,
business, community) to realize the true game changing potential of the
investments that have and are being made. African Ideas approach is based
on our understanding of the needs and challenges of all the partners, as
well as African Ideas’ experience in delivering ICT enabled social,
economic and public sector transformation.

I have been aware of FIWARE for some time now, and believe that the time is
now right to reach out and explore synergies. From what I can see, you do
not have a region and lab in South Africa, and I thought that this could be
something we could explore.

Regards

Nirvesh Sooful

tel: +27 84 909 9284 | fax: +27 86 669 2479 <+27%2086%20669%202479> |
skype: nsooful
nirvesh@africanideas.co.za | www.africanideas.co.za

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