UK looks to turbocharge Africa`s tech sector

Source: Vsoftsystems, 08/09/2018

The UK government has unveiled innovative partnerships with African
countries to boost innovations in technology across the continent.
Theresa May is leading an ambitious trip to Africa this week on her
first visit to the continent as prime minister.
This visit comes at a time of enormous change across Africa, with a
unique opportunity, as the UK moves towards Brexit. As such, the UK
has indicated it seeks to invest in and work alongside African
nations, with mutual benefit.
According to May`s office, her central message will be focused on a
renewed partnership between the UK and Africa, which will seek to
maximise shared opportunities and tackle common challenges on a
continent that is growing at a rapid pace.
Bilateral relations between SA and the UK are strong, covering a range
of areas of cooperation linked to both governments` priorities.
The UK was SA`s sixth largest global trading partner in 2017, with a
total trade at R79.5 billion.
New jobs
The UK government says a series of ambitious new innovation
partnerships between the UK and Africa are expected to stimulate
significant economic growth and support the creation of thousands of
new jobs.
The partnerships, announced by May as the UK strengthens ties with the
region, will be established in African countries with growing
technology sectors where there are young, expanding populations with
ideas and innovations developing at a rapid pace, it notes.
Building on the UK`s already-strong investment in science and research
in Africa, the partnerships will enable UK and African entrepreneurs
to share skills and ideas, and encourage future trade.
The increased engagement comes after the UK`s Department for
International Trade announced the appointment of a dedicated Her
Majesty`s trade commissioner to Africa. Emma Wade-Smith will now lead
a team which will provide expert in-country investment and export
advice for UK and African companies.
The UK government says the tech sector is one of the fastest growing
sectors in Africa. The continent`s start-ups raised 50% more venture
capital in 2017 than in 2016, and the majority of this is being
invested in SA (£130 million), Kenya (£114 million) and Nigeria (£89
million), it adds.
Nigeria and Kenya`s technology sectors are also growing rapidly and
generate more than 10% and 11% of their respective economic output.
`Technology can help transform societies by increasing economic
participation and creating sustainable jobs and growth. It also
increases the potential for countries to `leapfrog` to the latest
developments,` says the UK government.
Dedicated teams
It points out that dedicated UK science, technology and innovation
teams will build on the strong existing science relationships with SA
and Kenya, including through the shared investments in the Newton Fund
and high-end research programmes like the Square Kilometre Array.
The aim is to leverage all of the UK`s investments in science and
research, and broaden this into the regions across Africa to achieve
real impact and support mutual interests.
New regional tech experts in Kenya and Nigeria will build links
between the UK and Africa`s cutting-edge digital sectors; support a
wide range of start-ups to grow and create jobs; and help those in
need of digital skills get access to training.
A significant new DFID programme will accelerate the growth of
promising technologies and support start-ups to grow sustainably,
including through early-stage investment, connecting them with private
financing, and building connections with UK peers.
The UK adds it will accelerate the rollout of digital skills and
entrepreneurship programmes, including TeXchange, Global EdTech
Awards, Go Global, and Founders and Coders programmes in Nigeria,
Kenya and SA.
`These new innovation partnerships will not only help countries
turbocharge their development, but they will also promote the UK as
the place to start and grow a digital business,` says Jeremy Wright,
UK`s digital secretary.
`Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya`s technology sectors are growing
rapidly and generating a significant part of their economic output.
This means huge opportunities for UK businesses and for future
partnerships.
`New ideas, game-changing research and cutting-edge science are good
news for our African partners and good news for the UK`s world-leading
scientists, technologists and researchers who are representing the
country on a global stage,` he notes.
Entrepreneurial spirit
`I`m delighted to see these ambitious partnerships being driven
forward in one of Africa`s most rapidly-growing sectors,` says Wade-Smith.
`We`re already seeing fantastic work being done to transform the UK
and Africa`s shared entrepreneurial spirit into jobs and growth. In my
role, I see first-hand the huge potential Africa holds for British
businesses looking to create modern trading partnerships.`
Julian David, CEO of techUK, notes that Africa`s economy is projected
to grow by 3.2% in 2018 and to a further 3.5% in 2019, according to
the latest 2018 World Bank report.
`Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa represent a significant part of that
growth, with technology increasingly underpinning these numbers. The
decision to set up innovation partnerships and extend the tech hub
network to these African nations shows the [UK] government clearly
recognises this opportunity.
`The decision will allow the UK tech community to engage with
high-growth markets internationally, and in turn provide an important
corridor for international communities to engage with our burgeoning
UK tech sector.`