Listers 1. Kenya ICT Board and the Kenya ICT Reporters Association (KIRA) headed by Ratemo held a media workshop today at the Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi. Topics included case studies on new media by the Capital Group, presentations on various technologies and initiatives including how to build an online presence, managing IT projects, blogging, citizen journalism, an update on ICT Board initiatives and new media for journalists. This is the first of many such workshops organized by the Kenya ICT Board to build greater knowledge among ICT writers and reporters on this very varied subject of ICT. A link to presentations will be on our website www.ict.go.ke in due course. 2. The Kenya ICT Board's project manager for BPO ITES, Andrew Lewela and a representative from the Skills Taskforce set up by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and COmmunication, have been attending the 2nd PAN-Commonwealth Conference on Services Trade which is sponsored by The Commonwealth Secretariat and organised in collaboration with The World Bank Institute, Regional Multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence (RMCE), Mauritius and COMESA at the Sheraton Hotel in Mauritius, 20-22 April 10. The purpose of the conference is to allow greater collaboration among BPO ITES decision makers and players from the commonwealth. 3. The Kenya ICT Board's Strategic plan 2010-12 is nearing completion and there is a plan to subject this to stakeholder validation prior to its planned launch in June 2010. More details on this later. I am sure this document will be of immense interest to stakeholders. 4. The Kenya ICT Board will finalise the commission of state-of-the-art CISCO Telepresence Video Conferencing Center at the offices, 12th floor Teleposta Towers. The equipment has been installed and is due to go live within the next 2 weeks. The Board intends to provide support to the BPO ITES sector via this equipment by enabling private sector players to video conference with prospective clients. It will also be used for high level training. Working with other organizations within government and private sector, the Kenya ICT Board plans to provide exposure of this technology to school parties from all over the country as part of national capacity building. More on this later. 5. The 2nd Tandaa symposium on local content will take place on May 6th 2010 at the University of Nairobi. The Symposium will features some of the hottest Kenyan filmmakers and animators including Wanuri Kahiu, director of Pumzi, Kenya’s first sci-fi film and Jim Chuchu, director of the Ha-He video by Just a band – Kenya’s first truly viral internet video. Join us to listen to leaders in the film and animation industry speak about the impact of the internet, the challenges facing distribution of Kenyan films and the importance of a good story in developing new content from Kenya. Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment