KUDZANAI GEREDE
LOCAL technology firm Avantis Technology (Avantis) has launched the Avantis Parote 1030i laptop as part of its long-term strategy to meet evolving customer expectations and broaden its product offering.
The development marks a milestone in Zimbabwe’s growing technology manufacturing sector.
Speaking at the product launch this week Thursday, founder and chief executive of Avantis, Ari Goldstein said the Parote 1030i positions the business for international growth.
“The Avantis Parote 1030i laptop is a reflection of that vision. Designed and built locally in Zimbabwe to meet international standards, it represents the capability, resilience, and potential of our people. For many years, the continent has imported innovation. Today, we begin contributing to it,” Goldstein said.
The Harare-based company expects to scale production, deepen local manufacturing and expand into regional export markets. Founded in 2016, Avantis operates a Microsoft-certified factory in Msasa, Harare, where it manufactures and assembles affordable digital devices, including its Connect and P-series notebooks.
Goldstein said the company had set ambitious production targets as it seeks to position itself as a major African technology manufacturer.
“We intend to produce about 318 000 laptops annually across the globe and we’ve got that capacity to produce about 1,5 million laptops a year with our partners in China and South Africa. So, we are ready,”
“This year we’re going to produce 60 000 and we are almost at about 25 000 units. We intend to export. We want to export to East Africa first and then South Africa because it’s got a huge population base as well as Mozambique and other countries surrounding Zimbabwe,” Goldstein said.
He added that Avantis’ expansion strategy is anchored on strong strategic partnerships, including with State-owned telecommunications company TelOne, which supports the company’s assembly processes through engineering capabilities.
“We have a partnership with TelOne because TelOne has got engineering tooling. They can, if you give them anything else, they will make it. So, we design and then we do some other technical stuff. We do motherboards on our own and then we give them, they assemble everything else and then the computer is out,” he said. Beyond production growth, Goldstein said the company is focused on building a trusted African technology brand while creating jobs across its value chain.
“When we operate at optimum level, we are going to be having 137 people working directly for us and then we have about 200 to 300 people indirectly working for us in China, here and in the Southern African region,” he said
“We are also in the process of listing on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange a move that demonstrates confidence in Zimbabwe’s economy and commitment to transparency, governance and long-term growth.” he added
Speaking at the launch, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the innovation marks a milestone in the country’s technological space.
“Today’s event is not merely the launch of a gadget. It is a demonstration of confidence in Zimbabwe. It is a declaration that Zimbabweans are capable of building, innovating, assembling, manufacturing and competing on the global stage.
“The local assembly of laptops, desktops, and other ICT products is fully aligned with our National ICT Policy, our Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan, the National Development Strategy 2, and, indeed, our recently adopted National Artificial Intelligence Strategy,” she said.