[kictanet] Day 3 of 10- BPO Discussions, Institutional Frameworks

[David Otwoma]

Morning Walu,

Going to Q5.

Special Economic Zones are the in thing in Kenya as they seek to replace the
defunct Export Processing Zones of yester year see
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/593146/-/rgkvwaz/-/index.html and
http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/smartcompany/-/1226/546522/-/srd70jz/-/index.html

It is true there was/is lots of duplication of efforts in GoK e.g. Science &
Technology Parks (in Ministry of Higher Education, Science & Technology's
Strategic Plan {SP}); ICT Parks (in Mo Information & Communication);
Industrial Parks (in Mo Industrialization); etc.  So talking of coordination
now is a tall order when like the 'bulls in a pen' the likely scenario is
contests and less of grazing harmoniously.

Its painfull watching eloquent SPs end with the perennial requests to
Treasury to boost/add their allocations during the Medium Term Expenditure
Framework presentations/exercise to the Public which usually occur early in
the year (February). What is yet to be done is to convince our policy
(decision) makers that as they launch the SPs of their dockets see for
example http://www.tradeandindustry.go.ke/speech.asp?ID=87    it is
important that consultations with the aim of building synergies happen more
as opposed the current state.

It is worthy noting, despite the above, that GoK is determined to deepen our
reform efforts in order to achieve our Vision 2030 objectives, and we feel
confident that we wil be one of the top reformers again even in Doing
Business 2010 see pdf download from
http://www.treasury.go.ke/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=86&Itemid=54

To be blunt to local BPOs, it would pay to merge many of them since the
majority in Kenya are of less than 200 seat capacity. Even for the hand full
with over 200 seat capacity the stark reality is that whatever charge they
may offer to potential clients, especially Kenyan based, almost always is
above what the potential clients may incur by setting in-house call centre
e.g. KPLC and now the mobile operators may bear this out. In Nigeria the
government literally forced banks to merge using legislation that favoured
large banks, and considering the free spirit of Kenyans it may be
interesting if GoK may even dare suggest the merge and they do so without
riot police being called in aka hawkers and city askaris replays!

Have a great day.

David
On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 8:14 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> Dear Listers,
>
> I am encouraged by the flood of ideas that kicked in after Bill and Dr.
> Ndemo's interventions.  Ofcourse Kenduiywo, Bakuli and Peres your discourse
> is as insightful as that of MM and Barrack.  Lets keep the ideas flowing on
> previous themes even as we move onto today's theme - just ensure you pick
> against the corresponding subject line and post.
>
> I wish to open today's theme on Institutional Frameworks. The Researchers
> found that in S.Africa, Mauritius, and India, the Private Sector BPO lobby
> groups, Data Security Groups and Government Agencies were working
> harmoniously with clear, non-overlapping mandates to support the BPO sector.
> In Kenya it was found that several bodies were involved in the BPO Sector.
> These were largely Government agencies such as the Min of Education
> (Technology Parks), Kenya ICT Board, KenInvest, Export Promotion Council,
> CCK amongst others. The biggest challenge in Kenya was that there seemed to
> be no overall, cordinating body overseeing these functions - leading to alot
> of duplicated and un-cordinated effort from the various Players. And so our
> next Qtn is:
>
> Qtn 5: What needs to be done to improve/strengthen the institutional
> framework in order for the BPO and outsourcing sector to play its planned
> role in the Kenyan economy?
>
> We have today on this since tmrw we shall move into the Government
> Subsidiy/Incentive Issues for the BPO Sector.
>
> walu.
>
>
>
>
>
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