In Senegal, 2016 marks the start of construction of the Diamniadio Digital Technology Park, an oasis of 25 hectares entirely dedicated to the digital sector and located 40 km from Dakar. The goal is to make the country a center of excellence in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Funded to the tune of 70.61 million euros by the African Development Bank, this digital city will be operational in March 2017. Its construction is part of the Digital Technology Park (PTN) program of the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE). The park could generate 35,000 direct jobs and 105,000 indirect jobs by 2025 according to estimates by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
This digital pole already promises to be a great success since more than twenty companies, including the French IT services group Atos and the mobile operator Tigo Senegal, have already expressed their interest in installing their activities within its precincts. It will also have the advantage of having broadband access infrastructure, smart buildings, training centers and an incubator to boost the activities of young graduates focused on new technologies.
As such, this innovative infrastructure will help modernize the way government works, diversify the economy toward technologies, develop content and outsource business processes, and support university research on technologies.
Through the digital city of Diamniadio and its facilities, Senegal aims to become the technological crossroads of West Africa. It also wants to become one of the major digital destinations on the continent such as South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya and attract a large number of investors.
Senegal plans to eventually establish cities similar to Diass, Sébikotane, St-Louis and Ziguinchor.
Source: ecceafrica.com
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