Ethiopia to construct 200-hectare-wide ICT park

December 9, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian government is finalizing preparations to construct an information and communications technology (ICT) park in the country’s capital Addis Ababa, it was learned on Saturday.

The assessment and design of the project is being undertaken by one of India’s ICT giants called WIPRO in collaboration with the U.S.-based technology firm, CISCO, according to The Reporter, a private weekly English-language newspaper.

The design of the project is scheduled to be completed in March 2008, and will soon be followed by construction of physical infrastructure including roads, water sewerage system, electric and telephone installations, the newspaper reported.

The core objectives of the project are reducing the rate of unemployment in the technology sector, securing foreign currencies in ICT services and facilitating ICT development in the country, it said.

The ICT park will be constructed on a 200-hectare plot of land some 20 minutes’ drive from the Bole International Airport.

Over 20 foreign-based ICT companies are presently outsourcing ICT-related services to Ethiopia via outlets they established in the country.

(Xinhua)