SA to manufacture Africa’s first affordable, quality smartphone
The Mara smartphone will be the first high-quality, affordable smartphone to be made on the continent.
IN the world of smartphones, China has Huawei, Korea has Samsung, while the United States of America has Apple.
Long-time dark horse Africa is now taking centre stage with the announcement of the Mara phone project that is touted to take the smartphone business by storm.
Developed by Rwandan businessman and billionaire Ashish Thakkar, the Mara group at the Africa Investment Forum announced ambitious plans to develop manufacturing plants in Rwanda and in South Africa.
Read also:R1.1-billion Mount Edgecombe interchange launched
During South Africa’s recently held inaugural investment conference, Thakkar announced that his company would be investing R1.5 billion in a South African venture over the next five years.
“We all know the importance of high quality and affordable smartphones and the impact this can have on the continent. Quality smartphones mean we can truly enable financial inclusion, micro-lending and micro-insurance. This can translate into better education, digital healthcare and agriculture efficiency and improve commerce.
“If this is all going to be possible… we [need] quality and affordable smartphones. Unfortunately, we have quality smartphones but they are not affordable and if it is affordable, it is not quality,” he said.
Development news: Beachfront promenade extension on track
Thakkar said the Mara smartphone will be the first high-quality, affordable smartphone to be made on the continent.
The phones will also be exported and sold in Europe, making Mara a global player in the market. The project is in partnership with Google.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
