Bernard Great comment. Not in any way put of sync with my conclusion. In fact a useful addition. Both free and open source as well as packaged license software approaches are important. The benefit of the big firms dependency is that our firms and individuals can get into the culture of operating on the basis of established and standardized business process. I acknowledge that this is a not and open source or closed source issue. However, it is beneficial to developers when they are structured and backed in deploying solutions. some local Venture capitalists suggest to us that if technology firms build solutions on top of more established global platforms like oracle, Microsoft, SAP etc they stand a better chance of demonstrating reduced risk profile, and therefore can be more attractive in getting funding. On the other hand we have successful open source IT development firms locally that have received investment from venture capitalists. The Kenya ICT Board interest is in developing a greater pool of businesses in ICT in order to create more jobs. Thanks for the feedback. Sent from my iPad On 20 Dec 2010, at 13:45, Bernard Owuor <bowuor@hotmail.com> wrote:

I came across this when perusing through my archived emails.

I must confess that it's a joy to read such updates from a govt officials now and then. However, I am slightly alarmed at the drift of this particular brief.

My questions are:

- Since Open Source platform is not fronted by one specific vendor, how is it factored into this report, and how will it factor into govt thinking/strategy? - Could it be that some of the "big" vendors became big by acquiring open-source competitors: eg Oracle acquiring Java & MySQL? - Since such acquisitions will continue into the foreseeable future, it might be instructive to focus capacity building efforts upon specific generic technologies, as opposed to vendor products. - What's the proportion of the value of Package applications to Web/Internet/Mobile Applications - and is this ratio substantive? The report focuses on package applications. - Is it the best strategy to go head-on-head with India? Would such a strategy reflect an appreciation of our local "terrain" with regard to formulating a response to global software demand? -

There is no doubt that there is benefit in raising the population of Oracle DBAs, CCNAs etc. But even as we do so, we should not lose sight of the biggest prize of all - which is profitable innovation. Innovation is fostered by open standards and open-systems and unencumbered by (or overcomes?) vendor limitations. A population trained to think broadly, to translate technical innovations to useful products (or vice-versa) would be priceless.

Christmas cheers.

Bernard

From: pkukubo@ict.go.ke Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:42:56 +0300 To: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke; ke-internetusers@bdix.net CC: Subject: [ke-internetusers] BPO and ITES a wider view of the opportunity

Listers

Just leafing through an extract of the IDC's World Wide Software Forecast 2010-14 Summary report. www.idc.com

The Worldwide Packaged Software Market was USD 273 Billiion in 2009. Made up of Application development and deployment 64,575 Million USD Applications 129,838 Million USD Systems Infrastructure software 78,068 Million USD Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP, Symantec, HP, CA. EMC Adobe and Fujistu are the leading vendors.

Conclusion from our reading this report: Certain global company technologies dominate and the ability to develop and deploy solutions on top of these technologies can greatly enhance a country's overall ICT competitiveness. Most global enterprises run some of their critical operations on the back of these. Indeed the biggest ICT projects in the private sector here relate to deployment of solutions. e.g in CRM at Safaricom and Kenya Airways, in ERP at EABL, BIDCO, SHELL, and indeed in Financial Management in Government. The consultancy, project management and deployment of these platforms is a huge business opportunity. Indeed many shared services and outsourcing functions include supporting or using these platforms as part of wider business operation or process. Many successful ICT firms in Kenya are in this space. Some of the venture capitalists / and private equity managers in Kenya have asked us to encourage more ICT entrepreneurs to operate their businesses around established platforms.They would be willing to fund more Oracle or Cisco certified firms.

As an example, Infosys the large technology services and outsourcing provider has 20,000 certified oracle consultants on their payroll according to their CEO speaking at this year's Oracle World in California.

Part of any effort to develop a country's ICT sector includes aligning capacity building efforts to global demand.

asante and Happy Jamhuri weekend.

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 _______________

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____________________ 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

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