IBM exec joins U.S. President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa

21 Sep 2016
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The PAC-DBIA was created in 2014, as part of an Executive Order signed by President Barack Obama, to promote broad-based economic growth in the United States and Africa.

IBM’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, Takreem El Tohamy

IBM’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, Takreem El Tohamy, has been appointed to the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Takreem El Tohamy is now among the group of 23 private sector leaders selected to advise the U.S. President on ways to strengthen commercial engagement between the United States and Africa.

With more than 30 years of experience at IBM, Mr. El Tohamy has led expansion of the company's capabilities and facilities across Africa. IBM now has a direct presence in 24 African countries.

The PAC-DBIA was created in 2014, as part of an Executive Order signed by President Barack Obama, to promote broad-based economic growth in the United States and Africa. The advisory group provides information, analysis, and recommendations on U.S.-Africa trade and investment priorities.
 
In a statement released by IBM today, Takreem El Tohamy says: “I’m honoured to represent IBM on the President’s Advisory Council,” adding that “IBM has long recognized Africa's potential, and we have been partnering with local organizations on the continent for almost a century. In recent years in particular, we have seen how local governments and organizations have been able to leapfrog in technology adoption by embracing the latest innovations such as cognitive systems, cloud computing, data analytics and mobile technology.”

IBM says it is investing heavily in developing local skills and talents in Africa. Its Africa Skills Initiative is investing $60 million to help African governments and academic institutions to narrow the skills gap between tertiary institutions of learning and market place requirements.

IBM has research, technical and client centres across Africa including global delivery centres in Egypt, Morocco and South Africa; client centres in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria, and a regional Digital Sales Centre in Egypt.  IBM has opened two Research Labs in Kenya and South Africa, where scientists are driving innovation through the development of commercially-viable solutions that transform lives and spark new business opportunities. IBM also launched this year its first IBM Cloud Data Center in South Africa.


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