Hi Edwin, You are pushing the discussion in the right direction, but it needs to go much further than a communiqué or strategy. What Kenya needs is a Public-Private Outsourcing Pinnacle Organisation (Outsource Kenya?) on which all the bodies you mention below are represented and through which all national BPO development efforts are co-ordinated on an on-going basis. I believe the BPO Society is currently in the process of reconstituting itself so while it is doing that why not make it the PP body everyone works through? Then capacity can be developed to facilitate and co-ordinate all national outsourcing strategy, capacity-building, marketing etc. (What do you think, Raychelle?) This is my outsiders view, based to some extent on the Malaysian experience Bobby Varanasi, as well as the South African BePESA initiative that Pumela Salela shared with us at the Outsourcing and Contact centre Conference back in November. (Im copying Bobby in on this in case he has any other advice to add.) Regards, Sean Sean Moroney Chairman AITEC Africa seanm@aitecafrica.com UK Tel: +44(0)1480-880774 UK Fax: +44(0)1480-880765 UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 Mozambique Mobile: +258-82-820880583 Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802-0571766 SA Mobile: +27(0)724-577887 Skype: seanmoroney www.aitecafrica.com From: kictanet-bounces+seanm=aitecafrica.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+seanm=aitecafrica.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edwin Onchari Sent: 07 October 2010 10:41 To: seanm@aitecafrica.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Need for BPO sector re-alignment? Dear Listers and passionate BPO industry practitioners, In recent constructive discussions on the state of the BPO sector in Kenya, and how this will impact the contribution to realizing our Vision 2030 goals, one thing clearly emerged. As a country, we have a fragmented strategy of creating a sustainable industry. I strongly feel that we need to a have a joint communiqué (re-aligning of strategies) from the following and any other agency that has/should have BPO as part of its TORs: 1. Kenya ICT Board (The line ministry and supporting agencies such as CCK) 2. KenInvest 3. OPM- BPO/ITES working group 4. Brand Kenya 5. Vision 2030 secretariat 6. The Kenya BPO Society and by membership extension; KEPSA 7. Any other auxiliary industry/government agencies It is imperative that we have a unified, well thought through, strategy for the sector if we were to achieve much. This call is in the back-drop of many industry start-ups and auxiliary service providers, either shutting shop altogether, or suspending BPO departments in their operations (over 40 start-ups have shut down in the last 4 years with a potential loss of 5000 direct jobs). What are your thoughts? Kind regards, Edwin Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game.Service wins the game. TONY ALESSANDRA