Briefing MPs at a breakfast meeting on progress so far made in the
establishment of BIH, the Minister of Communications, Science and
Technology Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, said the first phase of the project
is expected to cost an estimated P360 million while the total cost will
rise to between P9 million and P1 billion on completion.
BIH is
a project aimed at attracting both local and foreign investors as well
as researchers. Its focus areas will be ICT, mineral technologies,
sustainable energy and biotechnology.
The Coordinator of the
project, Marianna Nganunu, said the project’s infrastructure, which
should be ready for renting by December 2010, has moved into the
implementation phase.
Fifty-seven hectares of land has been
secured near the airport for the project whose infrastructure
development and the construction of offices, laboratories, and
supporting facilities are managed by the Botswana Development
Corporation (BDC).
"The Innovation Hub will offer investors a
prestigious business environment in terms of both facilities and
services suitable for the ICT-enabled service industry,
technology-driven businesses, research and innovation," Nganunu said.
"Therefore,
apart from facilities, the Innovation Hub will offer business services
and business development support for its tenants. Strategies will also
be put in place to facilitate networks between local and foreign
companies and organisations."
An important component of the
Innovation Hub will be the incubator, a facility that will be
established to assist small start-up companies to transfer their ideas
into marketable products.
BIH will also give impetus to economic
diversification efforts. "The Botswana Innovation Hub will contribute
towards the diversification of the economy, the creation of employment,
and the transformation of the country into a knowledge and information
society.
"It is also expected that the Innovation Hub could be a
way to mitigate against the economic crisis," she said. "With diamond
sales going down, the country has to reduce its dependence on diamonds
and accelerate its diversification efforts, and ICT provides an
opportunity."
It is understood that many ICT companies are looking at Africa as the next big market, which is an opportunity for Botswana.
"The
work being done by the Ministry of Communications, Science and
Technology to improve the telecommunications environment in Botswana
will be a critical element in the success of the Botswana Innovation
Hub," Nganunu said.
"State-of-the-art telecommunications services must be provided for the investors with high capacity and at a good price."
Apart
from the diversification and employment benefits from this project, the
long-term benefits include a substantial increase in the level of
skills among young Batswana professionals and a significant increase in
research and development activities in both the private and public
sectors.
Responding to a question, Nganunu said her ministry was
already in consultations with the Local Enterprises Authority (LEA) for
spreading out to major towns and villages.
In terms of
marketing, she said they had started advertising internationally and
that BIH will be showcased at this year’s Commonwealth Business
Conference that will focus on Outsourcing in Africa.
Members of
Parliament urged the Innovation Hub to prioritise Batswana when they
seek investment as well as to make sure that BIH will be a true
Botswana brand. –Mmegionline