Developing ICT Private Sector in Emerging Countries WSIS

Developing ICT Private Sector in Emerging Countries WSIS, November 15 -19 2005 in Tunis

Outline • Introduction – Develop the ICT Private Sector in Emerging Countries • South Cooperation • Offhshoring • Best Practices and Enabling Environment for Business • Join the Knowledge Economy • Access to Higher Education • Summary-Conclusion

Introduction • Emerging Countries have different development needs than those of the Developing Countries • Excess of ICT human resources in the upcoming years in Emerging Countries • The need to sustain and fuel the private ICT sector by widening its market to enable economic growth and employment

South Cooperation • Replicate successful deployed ICT solutions in emerging countries to developing countries • Emerging Countries: an attainable model for Developing Countries • Win-Win for all – Lower cost for donors and receivers – Leverage projects in Developing Countries to promote ICT private sectors in emerging countries – Create growth in the mobile market in developing countries by providing more mobile content

South Cooperation • Generating economic growth and employment in the ICT Private Sector of Emerging Countries through creation of market opportunities in the South • The need to make policy changes that will allocate part of the investment destined to bridge the digital divide with developing countries, to promote the ICT private sector in emerging countries.

Offshoring • Boosted the economy of many developing and emerging countries • Job creation • Significant value to developed countries • Yet, very low percentage of the ICT is offshored. Ex: France less than 1%

Offshoring • Wrong perception in developed countries: “Offshoring” causes job losses • An enabler to start-up companies, and makes technology more affordable • Widen the world market for technology • Business transformation for a potential exponential growth to the world economy

Best Practices and Enabling Environment for Business • Alleviate government procedures and bureaucracies • Raise awareness about the incompatibility of the ICT lifecycle, and the government processes • Create best practices and a predictable/transparent environment • Financial reforms designed to boost the private ICT sector • Employment creation by increasing the number of projects in the ICT sector • Empower the ICT private sector in policy changes by getting them involved proactively

Joining the Knowledge Economy • Not an option • Contrary = Marginalization + Poverty • Example: Japan – No natural resources + Earthquake/Volcano Land • ICT= the greatest opportunity to leapfrog to joining the knowledge economy • No major capital investment + short learning curve

Joining the Knowledge Economy • The need to consolidate and improve the ICT infrastructure • Reinforce Capacity Building • Accelerate the process by fueling the ICT Private Sector

Access to Higher Education • The gap is growing between developed and emerging countries • Increased denial to access higher education and scientific knowledge, to developing and emerging countries • • Re-marginalization Threatened globalization More young people in the streets Reduced pool of skilled people on the world market which will directly impact the ICT Private sector • Increased concerns about economic growth • Cost of education is prohibitive • Urgent need to make higher education accessible and affordable, need to fund research projects

Summary/Conclusion • The need to fuel the ICT Private Sector for increased employment and economic growth in order to meet development needs in emerging countries • The ICT private sector needs help to carry the full load by increasing its economic opportunities through “South Cooperation” and “Offshoring” • Governments must provide the ICT Private Sector with an “Enabling Environment for Business” in order to allow for growth and employment • Access to Higher Education and Knowledge is key to sustaining the viability and growth of the ICT Private sector in emerging countries