Students sponsored to attend E-Tourism Conference

Coca-Cola is also hosting a special session with over 200 university students from (SIFE), Students in Free Enterprise Programme on 14 October, 2008 with one of the keynote speakers of the E-Tourism East Africa Conference - Pete Ward. Ward is the co-CEO and founder of wayn.com (Where Are You Now?), a leading social networking site for travelers.

“I am very excited that I will have the opportunity to speak to young entrepreneurs while I am in Kenya. I know that there are many obstacles and challenges to starting your own business, particularly when you're young, but I want to share my experiences and hopefully motivate and inspire young Kenyans that there are many ideas - particularly in the realm of ICT and tourism, that can be turned into a profitable business”, said Ward.

“Nurturing and guiding young entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into a workable business model is important to us,” said Norah Odwesso, public affairs and communications director for Coca-Cola East and Central Africa.

“We want to encourage young Kenyans to become part of a new generation of African innovation. Wayn.com offers a perfect example of this and I am sure that the students will be inspired and encouraged by the session,” she continued.

Paul Kukubo, CEO of the ICT board, said the opportunity to meet and hear from a great range of international innovators in the ICT and tourism sector will be incredibly valuable.

“So much can be gained by listening and learning from others in business. The ICT board is extremely pleased to be supporting ICT entrepreneurs to attend the E-Tourism East Africa Conference. Through this initiative we expect to create a competitive tourism sector which can better compete with first world countries. We want to market Kenya as an ICT destination, showcase our country's commitment to ICT usage across its key sectors and in the long run create competitive industries and institutions,” Kukubo said.

The director of SIFE, James Shikwati, praised Coca-Cola and the ICT board for their support for both the conference and training seminars and the entrepreneur session.

“We must do all we can to support and encourage our youth to harness online opportunities. The growth of ICT is key to ensuring competitiveness in Kenya's tourism sector. The exposure that these students will gain from the new ideas and technologies presented at the conference, as well as the inspiration from a successful, young digital entrepreneur, such as Peter Ward, will be priceless”, said Shikwati.