I'm told that when one imports computer parts they're charged duty, but when importing a wholy assembled computer (I'm assuming new) then no duty is charged. If this is correct, why doesn't the govenment scrap the duty on imported parts to further boost local assembly efforts?
All in all, I don't see why the government should spend efforts in local assembly unless Kenya is adding value to the hardware in the assembled computers, or Kenya manufactures computer hardware (like China). A few years back I read that there is negligable cost savings in buying parts and assembling verses purchasing the assembled machine.

O_O
 


--- On Sun, 8/30/09, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

From: bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] My Take: Affordable computers
To: kiriinya2000@yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009, 5:33 PM

When the Kenya Government slaped a 25% duty on used computers, it was
meant to encourage local assembly where we have done pretty well on the
learning curve.  This policy change is to enable local job creation while
taking into consideration on environmental impact from energy zapping used
computers.  In any case, the cost of a donated computer amounts to between
Ksh. 16,000 and 25,000.  This is pretty much what it cost assembling a new
PC locally.

Regards


Ndemo.


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