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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Paul,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Granted that you might be right to a certain level on your statement “we are on course” in to regard BPO/ITES; I beg to differ:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>For instance, marketing Kenya as a destination has not been well thought through; and in cases where some semblance of marketing has been done, the outcome has been wanting. India; Malaysia, etc…did not jump into being BPO/ITES giants overnight…they had to start from the bottom of the pyramid (your traditional non-technical telemarketing and customer service) and from here they have developed the critical masses; driven by the need for workers in the industry to grow from just taking calls to better paying jobs such as testing software, high end accounting services, back office support, engineering, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>While software certifications is a right step in the desired direction, it is only one piece of the puzzle…..we need to have other pieces in place…e.g. complimentary certifications such as PCI (for the payment card industry); HIPAA (for healthcare), etc domesticated. The center of excellence or a private sector driven regulatory body can be tasked to harmonize these. I am afraid if we do not take a multi-pronged approach at it, we’ll only have ourselves to blame for not making any tangible impact.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Edwin <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Kukubo<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 08, 2012 10:20 AM<br><b>To:</b> Edwin<br><b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Eugene<br><br>The very definition of BPO/ITES suggests we are course. The strengthening of software skills helps with our outsourcing journey. <br>Despite certain constraints specifically on incentives to international outsourcers wanting to locate here, the project to develop a centre of excellence for BPO training is on course. (see <a href="http://www.ict.go.ke">www.ict.go.ke</a> for details)<br><br>When we announced over 2 years ago that we would be doing this certification among other things, we did not get any pushback. Yesterday a representative from the software dev community attended our press conference and it was encouraging to hear his perspective. Basically arguing that standards can only make things better.<br><br>The choice to certify will be up to individuals and firms.<br><br>Regards<br><br>Paul Kukubo <br>CEO Kenya ICT Board<br><br>On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, Eugene Lidede (Synergy) <<a href="mailto:eugene@synergy.co.ke">eugene@synergy.co.ke</a>> wrote:<br>> Agosta,<br>><br>> <br>><br>> Seems like KICTB has finally abandoned it BPO/ITES campaign and is on to new things in the software development arena. Line up your team at PesaPal to get this new certification least they churn substandard software going forward.<br>><br>> For once Mr. Liko, allow the wind to follow the smoke…<br>><br>> <br>><br>> <br>><br>> Regards<br>><br>> <br>><br>> <br>><br>> From: kictanet-bounces+eugene=<a href="mailto:synergy.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke">synergy.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Beugene">kictanet-bounces+eugene</a>=<a href="mailto:synergy.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke">synergy.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>] On Behalf Of Agosta Liko<br>> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 2:00 PM<br>> To: Eugene Lidede<br>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>> Subject: [kictanet] Weird Things ...<br>><br>> <br>><br>> Samsung launched its 2nd Engineering Academy with a local Educational Institution<br>><br>> The ICT Board on the other hand is working with a Foreign Institution to launch a Kenyan software development certification<br>><br>> :)<br>><br>><br><br>-- <br>Paul Kukubo<br>Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board<br>PO Box 27150 - 00100<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br><br>12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street<br><br>Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 <br>Fax: +254 20 2211962<br>website: <a href="http://www.ict.go.ke">www.ict.go.ke</a><br>local content project: <a href="http://www.tandaa.co.ke">www.tandaa.co.ke</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tandaakenya">www.facebook.com/tandaakenya</a><br>twitter:@tandaaKENYA<br>BPO Project: www. <a href="http://doitinkenya.co.ke">doitinkenya.co.ke</a><br>Digital Villages Project: <a href="http://www.pasha.co.ke">www.pasha.co.ke</a><br><br><br>personal contacts<br>_______________<br><br>Cell: + 254 717 180001<br><br><br>skype: kukubopaul<br>googletalk: pkukubo<br>personal blog: <a href="http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke">www.paulkukubo.co.ke</a><br>personal twitter: @pkukubo<br><br><br>____________________<br>Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub<br><br>Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment <o:p></o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:#A0A0A0' align=center></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2112/4794 - Release Date: 02/07/12<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>