THE economic landscape of Nelson Mandela Bay is due for a makeover if the municipality manages to pull off its information, communication and technology (ICT) strategy.

This strategy is due to be unveiled at an ICT summit that will be held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University on April 19 and 20.

The industry’s leading players will take part in the event, with big names such as Microsoft, Didata and Business Connexion featuring prominently in the programme.

These companies will also be instrumental to the implementation of the strategy and creation of an innovation hub.

Belu Mabandla, head of the metro’s economic development, tourism and agriculture unit, told of the plans yesterday.

“This initiative is aligned to the metro’s economic growth and development strategy, which prioritise information technology as one of the key sectors that have a potential to enhance economic growth.”

She said a strategy had been developed and adopted in principle by the metro that would look to inculcate a culture of technology and innovation. The strategy and all its components and partners would be unveiled at the summit.

A key element of this summit will be the creation of an innovation hub.

This concept was piloted in East London last year, with funding and support from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.

This will now be introduced in Mandela Bay, with a R9-million commitment from the government’s innovation development and support body, Godisa.

This incubator will provide accommodation, infrastructure (including broadband access), business planning, and venture capital support for new ICT businesses.

The metro’s main aim is to turn it into a thriving centre of ICT innovation by supporting and promoting new ICT businesses run by entrepreneurs, university graduates, and SMMEs.

Mabandla indicated that this initiative would be operational by July this year, with final negotiations being completed to appoint a project manager.

The summit will bring together representatives from government, business and academia to exchange information and plan strategies.

Among these are Dimension Data chairman Andile Ngcaba, former director-general of communications; deputy trade and industry director-general Lionel October; Microsoft executive director Chose Choeu; Godisa chief executive Charles Wyeth, and the chief information officer in the premier’s office, Luca Fanicchi.

The summit will focus on ICT challenges and target core issues confronting technology innovations, the innovation hub, and business enterprise development in the current economic business environment.