Infotech 2016: Head to Pailles for the best tech deals

If you want to get the best tech deals for this end-of-year, then head to the Infotech exhibition. This annual rendez-vous is the place to be if you are looking for the latest tech gadgets or simply looking to replace your mobile phone. Discounts, innovations and a series of events.

Organised by the National Computer Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT, the 23rd edition of Infotech will last from Thursday 1st December 2016 to Sunday 4th December 2016 at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC), Pailles. 

Some new components have been added to the event such as a youth forum, an open source space, a Robotics corner and an e-gov services stand.

• ICT Exhibition
• Youth Forum
• Innovation Space
• ICT Job Fair 
• Robotics Induction Corner
• Open Source Space
• Cyber Caravan
• Gaming Zone
• E-Gov Services

ICT Exhibition

There are 62 stands in the main exhibition hall. 32 exhibitors are showcasing their products & services. Visitors will be able to get their purchased products in the delivery zone, thus avoiding heavy traffic. The delivery zone is located outside the main hall. Mauritius Telecom has special offers during the four days. Rs 10 000 discount on Samsung S7 Edge and on the iPhone 6S. Flash sales will be carried out during these four days.

Youth Forum

This year, a youth forum themed “Harnessing the Digital Evolution” is being organised from Thursday 1 December to Friday 2 December for secondary school students (Form 3 and above). This two-hour session includes interactions with the Minister of ICT. The purpose of this Forum is to advise students on job prospects in the ICT sector and to encourage them to pursue IT fields for their higher studies.

Innovation Space

Components such as IOT, Coding, Virtual Reality and Raspberry Pi are showcased by 23 participants. Around a dozen start-ups of the NCB Technopreneurship Programme will be present in the Innovation Space. Appease Informatics Ltd has come forward with “edunit project” to allow parents and private tuition teachers to communicate better through apps. It will help parents to monitor the progress of the child.

Robotics & 3D Printing Induction Corner (MRC)

The Mauritius Research Council is manning this space to focus on how technology can help young people innovate. 10 companies will be present in the Robotics Corner, including:

1. Innovate Technology and Robotics Academy from Australia,

2. Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique from France,

3. Rapid 3D Printing from South Africa and 

4. Kidobotikz from India.

The activities include

• Showcase Robotics: Humanoid robots will be brought in by international partners as well as one robot built by Mauritian students
• Showcasing 3D printers and imaging devices
• Initiating kids on coding for robotics
• Presentations on robotics, imaging and 3D printing technology
• Kidobotikz will bring around 100 simplified microcontroller boards to teach kids to build and take home their programmable devices.

ICT job fair /Career guidance

The ICT Job Fair/ Career Guidance will comprise of 6 ICT/BPO companies as well as training centres. This platform offers a unique opportunity for industry leaders to present training, job and career opportunities available within the sector.

Open source space

The open source corner will showcase open source software and apps to the SMEs as well as to the general public. Visitors will be able to see live demonstration of the use of Raspberry Pi r with the OSS platform.

Cyber caravan

The Cybercaravans of the NCB will be present during the four days of the event to carry out short awareness sessions on ICT as well as providing free Internet access to visitors.

Gaming zone

The gaming zone is hosting by the LAN Gamers Association and will comprise of over 15 stations linked to a 100 Mb ADSL line. This year several Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles will be in the gaming zone.