THE CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (CTICC)
http://www.cticc.co.za
The CTICC has been meticulously designed with absolute respect for the end user and
the most modern amenities and technology are mandatory ingredients. From major medical and scientific conventions hosting thousands of delegates to consumer exhibitions and trade shows, the CTICC’s extraordinary adaptability makes it accommodating and accessible.
The CTICC’s commitment to professionalism is complemented by the destination’s service standards and sophisticated infrastructure. It’s dedicated team is enhanced by the excellent reputation of its operating company, Amsterdam RAI, which has extensive international experience in all facets of the facility’s operation.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Post Conference Tours
Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Groot Constantia Wine Routes) – day tour
There are a wealth of wineries in magnificent settings in the Cape. Each of the wine producing regions has routes to help visitors discover the wine of the region.
In Cape Town the Constantia wine route starts at Groot Constantia, the country’s oldest wine estate. The Stellenbosch wine route was the first wine route in the country and includes some of the best known Cape wineries. The Franschoek wine route is where the French first made wine in South Africa over 300 years ago. Whichever region visitors choose to visit, they will encounter stunning scenery and winning wines which can be tasted at farms on route. A superb lunch will be enjoyed at Groot Constantia.
Table Mountain – half day tour
Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s greatest landmarks and towers 1,086 m above the City of Cape Town. It is visible from as far as 200 km out to sea on clear days and is often covered with cloud called the tablecloth. A revolving cable car carries visitors up and down in about 5 minutes and numerous walking and hiking paths lead up and across the mountain.
Spectacular views of the city, the Cape peninsula, the coastline and the ocean can be seen from 11 viewpoints on the summit. The mountain is more than a place of dramatic scenic beauty, it is also a place of richly diverse flora. Over 1,470 plant species occur on the mountain, more than in the British Isles. Complementing this is the fauna such as the Table Mountain Ghost Frog that is found nowhere else in the world.
Robben Island – half day tour
One of the most significant and symbolically charged pieces of land in South Africa, Robben Island guards the entrance to Table Bay. The name hails from the Dutch word for seals, “robbe”. The island was home to Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned there along with other political prisoners. Now a living museum, the island and its ghosts are visited voluntarily. As a place of history, education and insight into South Africa’s past, this is an essential excursion. The return boat trip (half an hour each way) to this World Heritage Site and a guided tour around the museum by an ex-inmate is an experience never to miss.
Castle of Good Hope – half day tour
The Castle is the oldest monument of European settlement in South Africa. Building of the Castle started in 1666 and took 13 years to complete. For 150 years the Castle formed the centre-point for civilization in the Cape. The five bastions of the Castle are Leerdam, Buren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje. The courtyard houses the Kat Balcony. Built in 1695, proclamations and announcements were made from this balcony to the soldiers, slaves and civilians at the Cape. Today the balcony is the entrance to the William Fehr Collection of historical paintings and period furniture. The courtyard is a tranquil place with a magnificent view of Table Mountain.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – half day tour
Covering five square kilometers (two square miles) on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, it is home to more than 8500 indigenous plant species, and is known as one of the Seven Magnificent Botanical Gardens of the world. Established in 1913, it only grows indigenous South African plants, Kirstenbosch is best known for its proteas (best in winter and spring). There are hiking trails through the fynbos as well as guided tours, including twilight nature walks. Kirstenbosch is a birdwatchers delight.
African Penguin Reserve – half day tour
They are comical, clumsy and very eye-catching in their black and white dress. In 1982 two breeding pairs of African penguins (once known as Jackass penguins thanks to the braying sound they make) moved into prime beachfront estate at Boulders beach between Simonstown and Cape Point. Today there are over 3000 of these birds living here and the area is now a National Park. Penguins can be viewed up close as they frolic in the water and waddle on land. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is watching who.
You’re likely to see penguin pairs strolling along the boardwalks and in the park. This is the one place in the world you will be able to swim and sunbathe with penguins. In a survey done by the BBC, Boulders Beach was rated one of the five best beaches to visit before you die.
Tour of the Cape Sea – half day tour
Participants have the option of riding on one of the most famous yachts in Cape Town, around the peninsula. ‘The way the world sees Cape Town’ – a unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking panoramas of Cape Town and beyond.
Township Tour
The tour offers an insight into and interaction with cultures, communities and individuals living in our colourful society. Witness every day life in a demanding environment and share in their hopes & achievements. The tour continues to the townships of Langa, Guguletu, Crossroads and Khayelitsha. This is the real Africa. Here traditional healers, traders, markets, shebeens and the church play an important role in the community.
Tour of the Malay Quarter
The tour takes participants to the well-known "Bo-Kaap" (Traditional Malay Quarters) to visit the District Six Museum. Buy arts and crafts and take back a souvenir of this amazing African experience. The "Bo Kaap" or "Cape Malay Quarter" belongs to the culturally and historically most interesting parts of Cape Town. Many of the inhabitants are descendants of the people from Indonesia (Batavia), Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, who were captured in the 17th and 18th century and enslaved by the Dutch-East Indian Trading Company. Many were Muslims and others were converted to Islam by the Cape Muslim community.
There are a wealth of wineries in magnificent settings in the Cape. Each of the wine producing regions has routes to help visitors discover the wine of the region.
In Cape Town the Constantia wine route starts at Groot Constantia, the country’s oldest wine estate. The Stellenbosch wine route was the first wine route in the country and includes some of the best known Cape wineries. The Franschoek wine route is where the French first made wine in South Africa over 300 years ago. Whichever region visitors choose to visit, they will encounter stunning scenery and winning wines which can be tasted at farms on route. A superb lunch will be enjoyed at Groot Constantia.
Table Mountain – half day tour
Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s greatest landmarks and towers 1,086 m above the City of Cape Town. It is visible from as far as 200 km out to sea on clear days and is often covered with cloud called the tablecloth. A revolving cable car carries visitors up and down in about 5 minutes and numerous walking and hiking paths lead up and across the mountain.
Spectacular views of the city, the Cape peninsula, the coastline and the ocean can be seen from 11 viewpoints on the summit. The mountain is more than a place of dramatic scenic beauty, it is also a place of richly diverse flora. Over 1,470 plant species occur on the mountain, more than in the British Isles. Complementing this is the fauna such as the Table Mountain Ghost Frog that is found nowhere else in the world.
Robben Island – half day tour
One of the most significant and symbolically charged pieces of land in South Africa, Robben Island guards the entrance to Table Bay. The name hails from the Dutch word for seals, “robbe”. The island was home to Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned there along with other political prisoners. Now a living museum, the island and its ghosts are visited voluntarily. As a place of history, education and insight into South Africa’s past, this is an essential excursion. The return boat trip (half an hour each way) to this World Heritage Site and a guided tour around the museum by an ex-inmate is an experience never to miss.
Castle of Good Hope – half day tour
The Castle is the oldest monument of European settlement in South Africa. Building of the Castle started in 1666 and took 13 years to complete. For 150 years the Castle formed the centre-point for civilization in the Cape. The five bastions of the Castle are Leerdam, Buren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje. The courtyard houses the Kat Balcony. Built in 1695, proclamations and announcements were made from this balcony to the soldiers, slaves and civilians at the Cape. Today the balcony is the entrance to the William Fehr Collection of historical paintings and period furniture. The courtyard is a tranquil place with a magnificent view of Table Mountain.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – half day tour
Covering five square kilometers (two square miles) on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, it is home to more than 8500 indigenous plant species, and is known as one of the Seven Magnificent Botanical Gardens of the world. Established in 1913, it only grows indigenous South African plants, Kirstenbosch is best known for its proteas (best in winter and spring). There are hiking trails through the fynbos as well as guided tours, including twilight nature walks. Kirstenbosch is a birdwatchers delight.
African Penguin Reserve – half day tour
They are comical, clumsy and very eye-catching in their black and white dress. In 1982 two breeding pairs of African penguins (once known as Jackass penguins thanks to the braying sound they make) moved into prime beachfront estate at Boulders beach between Simonstown and Cape Point. Today there are over 3000 of these birds living here and the area is now a National Park. Penguins can be viewed up close as they frolic in the water and waddle on land. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is watching who.
You’re likely to see penguin pairs strolling along the boardwalks and in the park. This is the one place in the world you will be able to swim and sunbathe with penguins. In a survey done by the BBC, Boulders Beach was rated one of the five best beaches to visit before you die.
Tour of the Cape Sea – half day tour
Participants have the option of riding on one of the most famous yachts in Cape Town, around the peninsula. ‘The way the world sees Cape Town’ – a unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking panoramas of Cape Town and beyond.
Township Tour
The tour offers an insight into and interaction with cultures, communities and individuals living in our colourful society. Witness every day life in a demanding environment and share in their hopes & achievements. The tour continues to the townships of Langa, Guguletu, Crossroads and Khayelitsha. This is the real Africa. Here traditional healers, traders, markets, shebeens and the church play an important role in the community.
Tour of the Malay Quarter
The tour takes participants to the well-known "Bo-Kaap" (Traditional Malay Quarters) to visit the District Six Museum. Buy arts and crafts and take back a souvenir of this amazing African experience. The "Bo Kaap" or "Cape Malay Quarter" belongs to the culturally and historically most interesting parts of Cape Town. Many of the inhabitants are descendants of the people from Indonesia (Batavia), Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, who were captured in the 17th and 18th century and enslaved by the Dutch-East Indian Trading Company. Many were Muslims and others were converted to Islam by the Cape Muslim community.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Value Proposition
The MIT GSW 2008 SA Conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurs starting their businesses in developing economies.
South Africa is the powerhouse of Africa, producing about 40% of the GDP of the continent. The success or failure of South Africa to provide a pro-active impetus to launch and grow new entrepreneurs will affect the continent. Although other African countries have successful entrepreneurial examples, the momentum of these businesses as role models will remain limited compared to the effect that South African initiatives could have. South Africa is therefore the ideal location for the 2008 MIT GSW Conference.
Entrepreneurs in developing countries face particular challenges in starting and growing their businesses. These challenges are not necessarily unique or specific to developing countries, but are more prominent than in developed economies and include:
South Africa is the powerhouse of Africa, producing about 40% of the GDP of the continent. The success or failure of South Africa to provide a pro-active impetus to launch and grow new entrepreneurs will affect the continent. Although other African countries have successful entrepreneurial examples, the momentum of these businesses as role models will remain limited compared to the effect that South African initiatives could have. South Africa is therefore the ideal location for the 2008 MIT GSW Conference.
Entrepreneurs in developing countries face particular challenges in starting and growing their businesses. These challenges are not necessarily unique or specific to developing countries, but are more prominent than in developed economies and include:
The cost and availability of Information Technologies, especially broadband internet access;
The availability of risk capital focused at early stage new ventures;
Proximity and access to global markets – specifically Europe and the USA;
The lack of entrepreneurial role models – entrepreneurs who are home-grown and self-made;
Meaningful and effective government support for the creation of sustainable new ventures;
Limitations of a local economy and the threat of imports;
Attracting and keeping talent in a global world where young talent is increasingly mobile.
Although the above challenges sound formidable, developing countries also offer unique and exciting opportunities to budding entrepreneurs:
There is the uniqueness of local knowledge. Big corporates entering these
regions are often completely out of touch with local realities;
There is a captive market that could serve as a test-market prior to entering the more competitive global market;
There is an increased awareness amongst governments of developing countries of the importance of entrepreneurs and small business and very lucrative incentives are being introduced to support local entrepreneurs;
Developed countries are also becoming aware of the importance of sustainable markets in the developing world, and see local entrepreneurs as key players in achieving this;
Globalization is a double-edged sword and in many instances offers big opportunities to compete globally with less expensive local resources.
Although the spotlight will fall on developing countries in the broader sense, the focus will be on the African continent. The idea is to concentrate on Africa's challenges and opportunities, applying lessons learned from elsewhere, for example India, Malaysia, Brazil and China.
The conference will aim to stimulate and expose governments and entrepreneurial support organizations in Africa to leading edge thinking and success stories from around the globe, but relevant to the realities of the African continent. It will be a platform for networking these institutions and leaders with their African counterparts. At the same time, it hopes to expose potential investors and support organizations from around the world to the realities and opportunities of Africa. It will also aim to provide perspective and hope to entrepreneurs on the continent.
In order to achieve these aims, SHAKE!, as conference organizer, will involve a wide spectrum of participants. This will include academic institutions, NGO's, government departments, entrepreneurial support initiatives, and successful entrepreneurs of the continent. It will also link up with relevant institutions and experts in other developing countries.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Thanks to the organizers of MIT GSW 2007
From our viewpoint as delegates you managed to put a program together where veteran entrepreneurs as well as less experienced gained inspiration, insight and understanding. The discussion that took place in the coffee breaks and long into the night was thanks to you. Trondheim is beautiful and we left with a good impression of the city and it's (nightclubbing) inhabitants.
We hope that next year we will have the opportunity to show you part of South Africa and let you meet some more South Africans. We have started to put our proposal together to host MIT GSW 2008 and if we ever doubted the effort you put into the conference, it is now becoming clearer day by day.
To all the delegates at the conference: We hope to see you all again. It was great meeting you and experience the value of diversity, compassion and commitment. Given the opportunity we believe that next year we can help you all in finding a focus for that energi.
Please bookmark this blog and add your feedback as we progress, so that we can make MIT GSW 2008 the best conference ever!
Thanks,
Cobus van der Linde
Mikkel S. Christiansen
We hope that next year we will have the opportunity to show you part of South Africa and let you meet some more South Africans. We have started to put our proposal together to host MIT GSW 2008 and if we ever doubted the effort you put into the conference, it is now becoming clearer day by day.
To all the delegates at the conference: We hope to see you all again. It was great meeting you and experience the value of diversity, compassion and commitment. Given the opportunity we believe that next year we can help you all in finding a focus for that energi.
Please bookmark this blog and add your feedback as we progress, so that we can make MIT GSW 2008 the best conference ever!
Thanks,
Cobus van der Linde
Mikkel S. Christiansen
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