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Rwanda just released the first smartphone made entirely in Africa
Fast Company ^
| 10/2019
| Melissa Locker
Posted on 01/20/2020 7:31:26 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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Rwanda opens 'first entirely homemade' smartphone factory in Africa
Africa's largest smartphone maker is Transsion, a Chinese company dominating the continent with its Tecno brand. The Shenzhen-based company doesn't do business in China, despite being based there but it controls a huge part of the smartphone market in Africa, where it has more than 50% marketshare.
Rwanda's ICT Minister Paula Ingabire hopes the plant can play a role in creating jobs and developing skills.
"This plant will hire and train professionals for higher-skilled manufacturing jobs," she told CNN. The number of employees is projected to rise from around 200 to more than 500 by its fifth year of operation. The minister also expects domestic production to increase smartphone penetration by "at least 10%," which will improve access to services and "drive financial inclusion in rural communities through mobile financial services."
The factory currently employs around 200 people, of which 90% are Rwandan and 60% are women.
Ingabire adds that the Mara plant will complement the government's ambitious Digital Ambassadors Program, which aims to achieve 100% digital literacy among youths aged 16-30 and for 60% of the adult population by 2024.
To: SeekAndFind
If they want to distinguish themselves in the marketplace they should sell a phone that automatically blocks calls from third world scammers.
To: All
2 Coconuts and a string a smartphone does not make.
3
posted on
01/20/2020 7:33:30 PM PST
by
BipolarBob
(Just imagine the /s after everything I post and we'll all be happier.)
To: SeekAndFind
Mara is producing two types of smartphone in Rwanda: The Mara X with 16GB storage space will retail for 120,250 francs ($130), while the more advanced Mara Z model with 32GB storage is on sale for around 175,750 francs ($190), the company said
4
posted on
01/20/2020 7:34:03 PM PST
by
SeekAndFind
(look at Michigan, it will)
To: SeekAndFind
5
posted on
01/20/2020 7:34:10 PM PST
by
aces
(and)
To: BipolarBob
6
posted on
01/20/2020 7:35:11 PM PST
by
SeekAndFind
(look at Michigan, it will)
To: SeekAndFind
Well, hesh mah mouff and call me stupid.
To: aces
RE: no thanks
It’s only for the African market.
8
posted on
01/20/2020 7:35:52 PM PST
by
SeekAndFind
(look at Michigan, it will)
To: SeekAndFind
9
posted on
01/20/2020 7:35:56 PM PST
by
Viking2002
(Epstein and Ukraine Airlines Flight PS752 didn't kill themselves. Yeah, I went there.)
To: SeekAndFind
Wait, they want to compete with Nigerian princes? Cant have that.
10
posted on
01/20/2020 7:36:25 PM PST
by
Reno89519
(No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!)
To: SeekAndFind
So basically, Google outsourcing to Africa.
11
posted on
01/20/2020 7:37:38 PM PST
by
Salman
(It's not a slippery slope when it was always their goal.)
To: SeekAndFind
"Can you hear me now?"
12
posted on
01/20/2020 7:38:57 PM PST
by
moovova
To: Viking2002
I’ve seen something like that priced for several $K in an art gallery.
To: SeekAndFind
Hope it works out for them. Not so sanguine about China’s footprint(s) in the third world.
14
posted on
01/20/2020 7:41:31 PM PST
by
P.O.E.
(Pray for America)
To: SeekAndFind
This is great to see, I wish them success. For many of these countries it is hard just to get an industry started, but it becomes almost a momentum powered engine. Pay somebody to build something so they can buy it. Of course you need multiple different industries to keep the money within the country.
Although it is too bad it is a Chinese based company, as I’m sure lots of the profits end up being spent and invested in China rather than in Rwanda. But at least Rwanda is getting a piece of the pie - better than no pie at all.
15
posted on
01/20/2020 7:44:13 PM PST
by
21twelve
(!)
To: SeekAndFind
To: SeekAndFind
That aint a clean room. They will have problems
17
posted on
01/20/2020 7:46:27 PM PST
by
Nifster
(I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
To: a fool in paradise
Over half of africa couldn’t use the phone then
18
posted on
01/20/2020 7:48:43 PM PST
by
Secret Agent Man
(Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
To: SeekAndFind
19
posted on
01/20/2020 7:50:18 PM PST
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
I ordered mine through a member of the Nigerian royal family.
20
posted on
01/20/2020 7:51:04 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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