IBM Says Africa's IT Industry Will Develop Rapidly in the Next Five Years

IBM said on Thursday that thanks to the development of the banking and telecommunications industry, Africa will become a fast-growing area for the IT industry in the next five years.

In September of this year, IBM won the Bharti Airtel's IT operations contract in 16 African countries. Tony Mwai, general manager of IBM East Africa, said: "Industry analysts expect that in the next two to five years, the African IT industry will grow at a rate of 10% annually. In East Africa, the increase is expected to be higher."

This week, IBM set up an office in Tanzania, which is the 20th office IBM has set up in Africa. Mu outside said: "There is a huge opportunity for development, especially the banking, public utilities and telecommunications market."

In Tanzania, IBM has signed a contract with National Microfinance Bank, the country’s largest commercial bank, to provide technical services to the latter.