A meeting between the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Michael Bear, and a select group of South African technology companies has laid the platform that could well launch South Africa's ambitions to become a global technology player. A decision was made to send a delegation of local companies to participate in the TechWorld Conference in London in November this year.

The Lord Mayor met with eleven CEOs who were invited to explore opportunities of mutual benefit. The meeting was facilitated by the UK government's trade promotion body, UK Trade Investment (UKTI), the Silicon Cape Initiative, venture capital fund Invenfin, as well as the revolutionary new event space, The iPlex.

'This is very exciting and gratifying, as it's exactly the type of catalytic role that Silicon Cape has always aimed to play,' says Rob Stokes, chairman of the Silicon Cape Initiative. “What is most rewarding is that UKTI recognises the mutual interests that will be met; not only do they see South Africa as the gateway to Africa, but they also want to attract businesses that see the UK as the gateway to Europe.'

Among the companies present at the meeting were:

'The common thread between all participants is their active or planned presence in the UK market, so it was very apt that they were invited,' says Alex Fraser of Invenfin, who is also a Silicon Cape executive committee member. “With the opportunity presented by UKTI's offer of facilitating the delegation, we can now throw the net wider to invite along other companies that wish to expand their operations. The TechWorld conference is the perfect platform from which to introduce South African companies and build the necessary linkages to leverage common opportunities.'

The Lord Mayor urged South African cities, such as Cape Town, where Silicon Cape originated, to take a close look at how London has created clusters of innovation and excellence to drive its technology industry. He added that public-private startup cultures centre on regions or cities.

'The discussion was both positive and constructive because many common touch points were identified, with the confirmation of the TechWorld delegation being an added bonus,' says Fraser. “We have no doubt that South African entrepreneurs have the drive and innovation to play on a global scale, and we are happy to be contributing to that.'

Thanks to The iPlex for supporting Silicon Cape by providing the venue free of charge.

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