<div class="gmail_extra">The government has data centres which are barely utilised <a href="http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Kenyan-Government-to-launch-3-data-centres">http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Kenyan-Government-to-launch-3-data-centres</a>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">I once tried highlighting issues with Government in my <i>Last Word </i>column, though found that I was burning my fingers in the process, and I shall keep my distance from that discussion.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">In my coming column in the same magazine, I have highlighted that we are pushing too much for "local sourcing" rather than an export oriented economy. </div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">If local firms are already exporting, how can we help them export more ? How can we add more firms exporting? </div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">
While protecting the local firms may looks prudent, we may find ourselves in the receiving end when those who we were exporting to decide it is unfair that we are "keeping them from our market". this has to be done very careful. </div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">South Korea, unlike the rest, decided to be crazy and protect its exports - the country is the 8th largest importer and 7th largest exporter - by ensuring that key components are always in supply <a href="http://internationalbusiness.wikia.com/wiki/South_Korea's_export-oriented_import_protection_economy">http://internationalbusiness.wikia.com/wiki/South_Korea's_export-oriented_import_protection_economy</a></div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Brazil on the other hand, did not have a smooth ride with its import substitution program. It had to devalue its currency (weren't we all crying with a weak currency last year?) and the military decided it was best suited to fix things at some point <a href="http://countrystudies.us/brazil/62.htm">http://countrystudies.us/brazil/62.htm</a></div>
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