[kictanet] Australian Treasurer proposes 'Netflix Tax' for digital imports

[Ahmed Mohamed Maawy]

Well.. for starters these issues are really not new.. studies have been
done, experiments have been carried out, and models for how public sector
can participate to foster innovative initiatives do exist and are shared.
One of the most famous reports for instance compiled is the report by the
World Bank called Innovation Within Cities – Policy Approaches to Grow Tech
Startup Ecosystems and Increase Innovation in Cities
<https://olc.worldbank.org/content/innovation-within-cities-%E2%80%93-policy-approaches-grow-tech-startup-ecosystems-and-increase>.
So what do I think can be done? Well, this can be a collaborative
discussion. But there needs to be a huge campaign to get public sector to
be in tune with what other established economies are doing. We need to dig
in, read, see, and have a panel of local experts who can fit the model to
the local innovation sector context. Because I think its clearly visible
that we need more participation in Innovative Initiatives by bodies in the
public sector. With all the innovation buz in .ke, there is still loads
more to be done. We are just getting started.

The innovation affair in Kenya is a highly private sector driven
initiative, and private and public need to merge to make that happen in
harmony. Which is why I also believe Kictanet is a positive step to make
such a platform come to life.

On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 9:35 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com
> wrote:

> But Ahmed, how will we solve the problems without outlining them? The
> policy makers are here on the list waiting for us to give them the issues
> startups face, and possible solutions to the problem.
> On Feb 10, 2016 9:04 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy" <
> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Its not about being practical or not Mwendwa. I personally know a good
>> number of people who have not registered businesses solely because of
>> overheads. But maybe that may not the point here. There are a couple of
>> things that we take for granted in this argument. The most important being
>> the role of the government in developing SMEs in the country through
>> incentives and other vehicles.
>>
>> What Moses has raised is a concern that Australia has about supporting
>> its local products. Frankly speaking the tech sector in Australia is as far
>> advanced as it is in our dear country - we have not even talked about the
>> strength of the economy in such a country to support a strong base of
>> potential investors, who mind you, most are locals in Australia. The Indian
>> case study outlines the story of a blooming Silicon Valley in India that
>> the public sector is paying attention to in ways we are not even close with.
>>
>> Question then is: How is this level play field going to look like?
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 8:57 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <
>> Kivuva at transworldafrica.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Ahmed, On a practical note, I would wish to see a list of the taxes that
>>> hinder the growth of startups. That way, we may point to policy makers the
>>> impediments the next Google or Whatsapp in Kenya will face
>>> On Feb 10, 2016 8:27 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy" <
>>> ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I think we all understand how India is significantly ahead of us in
>>>> matters technology. But still, read on:
>>>> http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-modis-big-push-for-startups-3-yr-tax-holiday-rs-10-000-crore-fund/1/572377.html
>>>>
>>>> I wish we were in any way close to this Mwendwa.
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 8:04 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <lordmwesh at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks Moses for this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Allow us to hijack the thread.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ahmed Maawy, what are these taxes you are talking about? Most
>>>>> governments have hundreds of taxes, considering even to bury someone
>>>>> attracts levies. I've heard this line of reasoning for a while. Maybe we
>>>>> can try to debunk it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>>
>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>>> startupgrind.com
>>>> ajplus.net
>>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>
>> swahilibox.co.ke
>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>> startupgrind.com
>> ajplus.net
>> www.everylayer.com
>>
>


-- 
*Ahmed Maawy*
Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
Ambassador - Open Knowledge
Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
(KE) +254 714 960 627
Skype: ultimateprogramer

swahilibox.co.ke
www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
startupgrind.com
ajplus.net
www.everylayer.com
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