[kictanet] Kenyan BPO fails to snap up the subsidy, why?

Mon Feb 1 10:17:33 EAT 2010

Harry,

In my view, Government should be a facilitator and as Government facilitates (in
conjunction/consultation with private sector) the private sector runs with it. 
I personally do not believe that private sector keeps blaming Government. I
agree with Liko that there is a disconnect at some point. The industry needs
some aggressive marketing to enable private sector to run with it.This is a new
sector and it must be treated as such and with sufficient attention.

Private sector has been doing it's part in the best way possible but as Nik
says, there is much the Government will need to do to help in marketing the
country as a destination.
I believe this is where KICTB comes in although I have previously been informed
that they have insufficient budgets.

I know that Government is also already looking into capacity building for talent
pool in the sector and this is commendable. We just need to run fast with this
and get BPO Ready talent so that as serious marketing takes root, we have the
talent pool ready to go without wasting any time.   

This is a great chance for Government to help develop local companies that will
in turn employ large numbers. One good way is to start serious digitization of
each Ministry's records, all the existing "starved" BPOs will be busy and
gaining good experience too while employing more Kenyans. 

Kind regards,

Gilda Odera       

Quoting Harry Hare <harry at africanedevelopment.org>:

> Good people, please help me out here. I sort of get confused with the BPO
> stuff, and especially the business models.
> 
> My take is, a BPO entity is a company offering business process outsourcing,
> right? It is also limited liability company, right? So, I would assume that
> the responsibility of marketing and attracting customers lies squarely on
> this entity. So where does the government come in?
> 
> And don't say that its because BPO forms part of the vision 2030, because
> one of the pillars of the vision is Financial Services and I have never
> heard the Kenya Bankers Association asking the Government to market its
> members and the sector abroad. Neither have I heard Kenya Association of
> manufacturers doing that. So this sorts confuses me.
> 
> Wouldn't it be more sustainable if the BPO sector worked on attracting
> business (and it does not have to be international I imagine) by packaging
> value as the offering? I tend to think Govt subsidies can be used to jump
> start a sector but are not sustainable to grow a sector. Govt subsidies are
> tied to political considerations and objectives which change with the
> government in power. You see, I need some education, don't I?
> 
> Good day all.
> 
> Harry (not Delano)
> 
> 
> On 2/1/10 7:57 AM, "Edwin Onchari" <eonchari at kenyabposociety.or.ke> wrote:
> 
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > The lack of business can and will be addressed on 2 fronts:
> > 1. marketing - The Society is developing a model that will bear fruit
> > mid-year (June/July) for key international markets (North America, UK) and
> > throughout the year for the local market beginning this month (February).
> We
> > are also developing marketing strategies for the EU market that is more
> > targeting ITES operations.
> > 2. Capacity- this includes what Charles is talking about, fiber, ease of
> > doing business, but most important (especially for international clients)
> > data security policy. This policy is being developed (requirements
> document)
> > in collaboration with our partners in key markets and once information
> > collection is complete, we'll develop a data security guideline for the
> > industry and assist local players comply with this ahead of the June/July
> > marketing initiative.
> > 
> > Kind regards,
> > 
> > Edwin M Onchari
> > CEO- Kenya BPO Society
> > +254-(0)720 755 951
> > eonchari at kenyabposociety.or.ke
> > www.kenyabposociety.or.ke
> > Blogs:
> >
> http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/discounted-medical-cover-for-ind
> > ustry.html 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> >
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > ] On Behalf Of charles nduati
> > Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 7:45 AM
> > To: eonchari at kenyabposociety.or.ke
> > Cc: ke-internetusers at bdix.net; kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenyan BPO fails to snap up the subsidy, why?
> > 
> > hi all,
> > 
> > Nick has hit the nail right on the head
> > 
> > As JKUAT, we have also taken on this challenge and signed on with African
> > BPO Academy and BCI to start offering BCI's certifications so that our
> > graduates  know what it takes to take Kenya where it ought to be in BPO
> > space.
> > give us the support by sending your staff for trainibg which we are also
> > offering at Nairobi CBD.
> > 
> > regards
> > 
> > charles
> > 
> > On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:26 EET nicholasnesbitt wrote:
> > 
> >> this biggest concern for this industry is the lack of business.  not the
> > lack of talent or the high costs.  It's the cost of overcoming
> perceptions,
> > reaching out to new prospects, convincing them that kenya is a worthwhile
> > outsourcing destination.  Marketing!  Spreading the word.
> >> 
> >> I have just spent a week in the UK meeting with some of the largest
> > outsourcers in the world.  They have never heard of Kenya as an
> outsourcing
> > destination.  Very interested now, but completely unaware.  We stopped
> > marketing Kenya as a BPO destination before we had built international
> > recognition and credibility, which raises questions  in these prospects'
> > minds about our commitment as a country to making Kenya an outsourcing
> > destination...
> >> 
> >> Nicholas A. Nesbitt
> >> Chief Executive Officer
> >> KenCall EPZ Ltd
> >> P.O. Box 27507 - 00506
> >> Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road
> >> Nairobi, Kenya
> >> 
> >> +254.20.660.2000 (office)
> >> +254.20.660.2222 (fax)
> >> +254.721.458.458 (cell)
> >> +253.733.458.458 (cell 2)
> >> 
> >> nnesbitt at kencall.com
> >> www.kencall.com
> >> 
> >> BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008
> >> 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >       
> > 
> > 
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