Gqeberha, South Africa, 20 November 2024 – The Coega Development Corporation (Coega), this week, joins the Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications and Technologies and the Eastern Cape Premier at the 18th Annual ICT Summit, a premier event for the region’s technology community, which is currently underway at the East London International Convention Centre.
The 2024 Summit, hosted under the theme, 30 years of democracy: Reflecting on the current trends and future insights within the ICT Sector, features experts from various sectors including national and provincial government, businesses in the information, communication and technologies space, the mainstream media, educational institutions, and Coega to name a few.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications and Technologies, Honourable Mondli Gungubele, emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence, 5G networks and Internet of Things to advance South Africa’s competitiveness.
“The ICT Summit has become a critical platform for dialogue and collaboration in our ever-evolving digital landscape. As we reflect on the role this forum has played in the sector, we should consider repositioning it as a National Digital Innovation Forum, placing innovation at the forefront of the agenda,” said Gungubele.
The Eastern Cape Premier, Honourable Oscar Lubabalo Mabuyane, addressed delegates at the signature event, touching briefly on the development of the Eastern Cape’s Digital Strategy and the importance of investing in research and development to drive innovation.
“This Summit provides a platform for stakeholders to contribute to the burgeoning ICT sector. It brings industry together in one room to talk ICT in the Eastern Cape, as our country celebrates 30 years of democracy. I leave here inspired, seeing young people beaming with ideas. We commit to continue partnering with the brightest minds to bring these innovations into government,” said Mabuyane.
Mr. Motse Mfuleni, ICT Summit Founder and Executive Chairman, stated that the Summit aims to address many of the hindrances faced by South Africa businesses including a lack of access to high-speed internet and digital technologies, particularly in rural areas, aging infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles.
“The ICT Summit was established to promote innovation, seek solutions, and position the ICT sector in developing the country. The vast experiences showcased by our guest speakers are a true reflection that the summit is a platform of discussing and deliberating on matters that need solutions,” said Mfuleni.
Coega Chief Knowledge and Digital Officer and ICT Summit Guest Speaker, Ms. Magama Makgamatho, provided a sneak peek into her presentation at today’s ICT Summit, showcasing Coega’s value-adding ICT business solutions.
“Understanding your business’s unique needs and strategic priorities is essential to effectively leverage available technologies. Businesses can only gain a competitive edge by investing in technologies that align with these goals and priorities. Coega, for example, has invested largely in cloud computing.
“Coega’s expertise in harnessing technology to drive business growth is well-established.
We look forward to sharing our insights, best practices, and Coega Technologies and Consulting service offering with attendees at the Summit,” concluded Makgamatho.
Find Business Accommodation in Gqeberha HERE
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is a beautiful city located on the coast in the Eastern Cape Province and is known as the “Friendly City”, with other towns in this district including Kariega (Uitenage) and Despatch. Forming part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Gqeberha has stunning beaches, historical museums and memorials, award-winning wildlife sanctuaries and super friendly people, making it a spectacular holiday destination.
Watch a Random Port Elizabeth video:
Raggedy Ann
Domestic inflation: The highest inflation rate ever recorded in South Africa was in January 1986, at 20.7%. Some of you may remember those bad days where each wag of P.W. Botha’s finger put an extra percentile to the inflation rate. That year the average inflation rate was 18.7%. During the 2008 financial crisis, South Africa’s inflation rate was 11.5%. In July 2018, the latest official monthly inflation rate was 5.1%. With inflation, this low, production cost increases can be expected to remain low, despite the large hikes in the petrol price. This reduces the perceived risk of starting a business in South Africa. Compared to Venezuela (200 000% inflation rate) we are not doing too badly!