The National ICT SMME Chamber has welcomed the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande’s support of the inaugural South African Mobile Devices Expo (Samdex).
Addressing the stakeholder and media breakfast to introduce the first South African Mobile Devices Exposition (SAMDEX), Minister Nzimande, said “we are delighted to be in a partnership with SAMDRA, given the potential this has to provide skills and employment opportunities for our young people, particularly in the townships.”
This partnership will ensure that SAMDDRA is in a better position to support its prospective membership to get practical skills, training, certification and accreditation of companies and SMMEs as outlined in its founding mission.
Most importantly this partnership will ensure that we massively expanded a range of skills development initiatives directly linked to the national Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, particularly using information communication technologies, such as cell phones and other tech-based innovations.
“As I understand it, SAMDEX will be a gathering of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), innovators, researchers and developers so that they expose their mobile devices, mobile apps as well as related products and services to the South African public and to African and international visitors.” said Nzimande.
As mentioned before, our partnership with SAMDRA predates the hosting of SAMDEX, and began with support for training through our Media, Information and Communications Technologies (MICT) SETA. We have now entered into a formal partnership with SAMDDRA for this hosting of SAMDEX. Given the mandate of my two departments, that of promoting skills development, science and innovation, we felt it important to support this important initiative.
He said the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) brought with it modern technologies and tools that can assist to create various opportunities in South Africa to benefit its citizens.
“With the highest need to reduce unemployment and transform the economic and social order in the country, it is undisputed that a continuously thriving Mobile industry is one of the channels that can unlock opportunities especially for the youth” he added.
SAMDEX will be a platform for leaders, visitors and industry stakeholders to explore, exchange and discuss topics relevant to the local South African economy and its regional impact. To this end, areas of interest include innovation and education, research and development, manufacturing, distribution and usage of mobile devices and mobile apps as well as related products and services.
According to Loyiso Tyira, the Chairperson of SAMDDRA, Samdex will provide an opportunity for leaders and decision makers to unearth, map and develop an industry led roadmap for the mobile devices’ industry that is beneficial to the country’s economic and technological future both for a progressive local, national and regional socio-economic impact.
He added that the SAMDEX initiative is also in line with the shared view that opportunities created by the 4IR era should be harnessed to inclusively benefit the people of South Africa and the African region.
