Delegates follow proceedings during the Connected East Africa Conference
at Leisure Lodge, Kwale County, which was officiated by ICT Cabinet
Secretary Fred Matiang’i last week. The government will push for
punitive regulations to tackle increased cases of cybercrime. PHOTO |
KEVIN ODIT |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenyan start-ups can now instantly access crucial information on
running a business locally, following the launch of an online portal
intended to provide relevant resources for new and developing
enterprises.
The portal dubbed Biz4Afrika, is the
brainchild of global firm Microsoft and will provide important tips and
guidelines to aspiring entrepreneurs on how to set up and grow their
ventures.
Through the platform, investors will be
tipped on financial planning and accounting, legal and regulatory
issues, marketing and human resource, among others.
“The
goal is to empower every African who has a great idea for a business or
an application and to turn that idea into a reality, which in turn can
help their community, their country, or even the continent at large,”
said Microsoft Country Manager Kunle Awosika.
Chance hance to exchange ideas
The portal was launched during the Connected East Africa forum in which Microsoft was the title sponsor.
It
will also give investors a chance to exchange ideas with like-minded
entrepreneurs and take lessons from industry leaders in real time.
The
launch is the latest in a number of recent efforts by both the
government and the private sector to help grow Kenya’s start-ups.
“We
have been cited by Harvard University as having surpassed the tipping
point from primarily exporting raw materials to creating and exporting
value-added goods and services,” said Mr Awosika.
“The
continued shift from a labour-based economy to a knowledge economy will
require increased online presence, particularly by SMEs, which
contribute about 45 per cent of Kenya’s GDP,” he said. Studies have
shown that a majority of small and medium enterprises end up closing
shop because they are unable to turn their innovations from ideas into
business.
POOR PLANNING
This is largely blamed on poor planning, lack of resources and existing information gaps, which make it hard for research.
Software
developers in particular are losing lucrative opportunities for funding
because they lack clear business plans and strategies to take their
ideas to market.
Data from a recent World Bank report
on the ease of doing business in East Africa indicates that despite
several moves to institute reforms in business and governance, both
local and international investors are still faced with stumbling blocks
that limit investment.
Meanwhile, Communications
Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said the proposed regulations on
dominance are not targeted at Safaricom but are meant to create order in
the sector.
He said the government would support the
regulator in its move to streamline the industry as long as the rules
are objective and fair.
The Communications Authority
of Kenya has proposed a set of 11 regulations, expected to come into
force by mid-June, including a fair competition and equality of
treatment clause that empowers it to automatically declare any
telecommunications firm with a market share of more than 50 per cent
dominant.
The move has elicited debate among business leaders who feel it is tantamount to punishing innovation.
“We’ve heard some operators complaining that the new regulations are targeting the market leader.
“That
is not the true position. We support the regulator in the decisions
that it will come up with so long as they are objective and fair,” said
Mr Matiang’i.
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