FYI - apologies for cross-posting --------------------------- THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-COMMERCE AND INTERNET SECURITY IN EAST AFRICA VENUE: KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, NAIROBI DATE: 13TH-15TH AUGUST 2008 Dear Partner, RE: THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-COMMERCE AND INTERNET SECURITY IN EAST AFRICA Information and Communication Technology has been recognised as the engine of development all over the world. ICT sector provides endless opportunities for Africa and its growth in East Africa provides even greater benefits. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) may arguably be the most powerful tool for social and economic development. E-commerce has been the centre of debate in business management in the 21st Century across the globe. The pressure for businesses in Africa to go online like most developed nations could be attributed to large multinational corporations, who integrate the internet into their operations; as such suppressing buyers and suppliers located in developing countries, to adapt to the new business models. With the marketplace becoming increasingly global, many companies have come to a realization that it takes more than high quality, affordable prices and differentiation to excel in today's highly competitive multinational market place. E-commerce in the United States of America has flourished owing to several pre-existing conditions: along history of catalogue marketing that has helped the fast acceptance of virtual transactions, a high rate of internet penetration, a mature credit payment system and the presence of efficient delivery services. It is very significant that businesses in East Africa realize they have much to gain from embracing e-commerce in their marketing strategies. The payoffs are tremendous; penetration rate estimated currently at over 470 million people, reducing processing costs by up to 90%, reducing cycle time by up to 80% and improving staff productivity between 20% and 300%. The solution for Kenyan products and services to penetrate the global market lies in developing "e-markets", electronic meeting places for buyers and sellers with defined rules for e-purchasing, e-bidding and e-selling". It is a question of acting small but being big. Kenyan and East African companies have no choice but to deploy internet technologies to remain competitive. However, African government needs to take a proactive role in developing a robust, flexible regulatory framework for e-commerce. It is equally important to ensure effective coordination of government agencies, industry association and other facilitators. It is important that a stable physical and virtual infrastructure of trust - shared by all concerned parties, public authorities, local and foreign entrepreneurs, financial services, providers and customers - be equally enhanced. It is very significant that businesses realize that they have much to gain from embracing e-commerce in their strategies Development sector and commercial enterprises in Africa and all over the world however, have to grapple with serious challenges arising from the massive computer application insecurities such as stolen data, viruses, hackers, spam mail, government monitoring and privacy invasion among other threats. These threats are not only expensive to an organization in its efforts to deliver effective and efficient services to its clients but is time wasting and potentially destructive to organizations. Purple Images Productions proposes to organize the first conference to promote e-commerce as a tool of business and national development in the region. The main objective of the conference will be to create national forum to review and evaluate ICT development in organizations in relation to the internet and general computer security threats and challenges globally and in the region. Conference Presentation Topics: E-Commerce * The Challenges of Connectivity in Africa * The impact of Cultures on e-business * E-Commerce and youth employment * Web marketing challenges and opportunities * Business Process Outsourcing : The Challenges and Opportunities * Management Challenges facing E-businesses in East Africa * Marketing issues facing E-businesses in East Africa Computer and Internet Security · Website security : opportunities and challenges · E-Commerce Business Management and Marketing Security and Risk Management challenges * E-government, E-commerce, E-learning and E-banking Security: Emerging Threats and Technology Trends · Computer and Internet Crimes; The need for Legislation and Compliance · Business Process Outsourcing Opportunities , Challenges and Security Threats · E-commerce Security Policies , Alignment of Business and IT Security Efforts and intellectual property rights protection * In house security threats to business, database security, forensics, identification and authentication, intrusion detection INTERNET SECURITY & E-COMMERCE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS The following are the categories for the awards dinner ceremony: * The Most Successful E-Commerce Company in East Africa * The Most Promising Young Person in E-Business of the Year * The Most Innovative E-Commerce Achievement for the Year * The E-Commerce Woman of the Year * The ICT Manufacturer of the Year * E-Tourism Business of the Year * Computer Security Software Development Award of the Year * Business Process Outsourcing Company Award of the Year * Computer and Internet Security Business Leader of the Year (To be nominated for awards, send a profile of your e-commerce business on showing the successes of your business to: info@purpleimages. com) Booking and Conference Costs • Delegates to pay Kshs. 16,000 ($ 250) per person. The fee will cater for meals and materials. Delegates must also meet the costs of their travel and accommodation in Kenya . To be part of this great event, please register by completing the conference application form. Payment of the participation fee stipulated above is required to guarantee a slot in the limited places available. This fee covers lunches, teas & conference materials. Registration of delegates and the stakeholders is in process. There is a technical committee to receive and review abstract papers from the presenters and workshop facilitators. After reviewing the abstract papers on the different themes of the conference, the final list of the facilitators and delegates will be sent out alongside the final conference programme. Ms. Mercy Kariuki The Conference Coordinator The 1st International Conference on E-Commerce and Internet Security in East Africa Mbuchia House, 3rd Flr, West Wing, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya P.O BOX 58182 - 00200 Nairobi Telephone: 254-20-4450937/ 4452674 Cell: 254-720-425175/ 722 634947 Email: purplemedia2000@ yahoo.com or info@purpleimages. com Email: www.purpleimages. com -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe@gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com