[kictanet] Marketing Kenya as a BPO Destination (within andwithout the country)

Thu Jun 26 07:25:01 EAT 2008

Wambui

I must admit that you have raised some pertinent issues. The feedback from
many of our members at the BPO Society is that one of the reasons they find
it very difficult to secure international contracts is because in the first
place, there is not enough awareness 'out there' of Kenya as a BPO
destination. Potential outsourcers are not aware of 'the Kenyan BPO Brand'
and what are the values behind that brand. In the case of India, South
Africa, Egypt, those countries have communicated their value proposition to
their potential international markets. An outsourcer, or investor therefore
knows what to expect in terms of quality, value, standards, human resources,
data security policies, incentives etc when they want to do business with
BPO's in those countries.

I think the ICT Board will have to first concentrate efforts in building the
'Kenyan Brand' as a BPO destination, and raising awareness about the Brand
and what value it represents. However, am not sure that the Board has the
kind of budgets that the countries you have mentioned, have access to.
Perhaps budgets are an issue? The ICT Board would be best placed to tell us
more. And if budgets are inadequate, how can the government claim to be
serious about BPO being one of the pillars of Vision 2030?

Peres Were

Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society

  _____  

From: kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Wambui Wakarema
Sent: 25 June 2008 18:48
To: pwere at cascadegl.com
Cc: KICTAnet at yahoo.com; New Vision List; Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Marketing Kenya as a BPO Destination (within
andwithout the country)

When I look at the efforts that South Africa, Egypt, Mauritius and other
emerging BPO destinations are putting to raise awareness about their
countries as players in the BPO world, I am left wondering if the ICT Board
is really aware of the challenge that they have in raising Kenya's profile?

 It will require a serious assault by Kenya, on the international market,
together with a clear strategic plan, if we are to make any headway.
Otherwise  Vision 2030 can as well forget about the BPO sector.

The Board could learn a thing or two from these countries. In the first
place has the Board conducted a competitor analysis of these countries that
Kenya is competing with? This should be the first step.

All of these countries invested heavily not just in marketing, but also by
providing incentives to would-be investors in the sector. Is the ICT Board
looking at developing incentives for BPO investors? How will Kenya compete
favourably with other countries?

What are the plans for the BPO park? It is likely to be an empty shell, at
the rate at which operators are shutting down or suspending operations.

Wambui Wakarema

--- On Tue, 24/6/08, waudo siganga <emailsignet at mailcan..com> wrote:

From: waudo siganga <emailsignet at mailcan.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Marketing Kenya as a BPO Destination (within and
without the country)
To: wambuiwakarema at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: "New Vision List" <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com>, KICTAnet at yahoo.com,
"Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Tuesday, 24 June, 2008, 9:11 AM

Shem and Titus, I agree with your observations. After attending some ICT
Board events I gathered that BPO is indeed the focus for the Board, with
other activities being 1. Advisory to the Govt 2. Capacity Building  and 3.
Project Management. I have heard the Board explain that they are not really
into "ICT" per se but rather, its application. I do not mind marketing being
a focus here  (and I think they are doing a good job of it), but the gap to
deal with "ICT" should abe addressed by the Government. The name "ICT Board"
is somehow a misnomer that confuses some people. A better name would have
been "ICT Marketing Board" or "ICT Promotion Board".

Waudo, in Paris.

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:49:38 -0700 (PDT), "Shem Ochuodho"
<shemochuodho at yahoo.com> said:

Titus,

You raise a pertinent question. In the V-2030, the pillar is 'BPO', and not
'ICT'. And listening to Government officials, the focus seems to be on the
former, and not the latter. And am left wondering why. Perhaps this may help
explain why 'marketing' is ICT Board's core activity. If BPO is all the
Board is about - or its main focus, then of course 'marketing' is the core
function.

Best rgrds,

Shem

--- On Mon, 6/23/08, Titus Mburu <titonjoroge at gmail..com> wrote:

From: Titus Mburu <titonjoroge at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Marketing Kenya as a BPO Destination (within and
without the country)
To: "Shem Ochuodho" <shemochuodho at yahoo.com>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Monday, June 23, 2008, 10:26 AM

If I may, let me ask - what has been identified as one of the pillar in
Vision 2030? Is it ICT or BPO?

One of the TV stations focused on the call center industry, during the
launch of Vision 2030 and i got worried.

Regards,
Titus Njoroge.

People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).
_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

This message was sent to: wambuiwakarema at yahoo.co.uk
Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wambuiwakarema%40yahoo.
.co.uk

  _____  

Sent from Yahoo! Mail
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http:/us.rd.yahoo.com/e
vt=52418/*http:/uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> . 
A Smarter Email.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20080626/6120de2f/attachment.htm>