presentation by maclean t. mbepula shekinah invest open access 2009 conference: theme: harnessing...
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation by Maclean T. Mbepula
Shekinah Invest
OPEN ACCESS 2009 CONFERENCE:THEME: HARNESSING THE RAPID GROWTH OF FIBRE OPTIC FIBRE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SOCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OUTLINE CURRENT SITUATION WHY I.C.T. ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES WAY FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES
Map of Malawi• Population: 13 million• 118,484 square kms• Males: 49 %• Females: 51%• 32 % population growth (1998 - 2008) • 6.2 million : 18 years and above - 3.2 million are females
http://www.nso.malawi.net
CURRENT SITUATIONGOVERNMENT ACTIVITIESPRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITIESPUBLIC RESPOND / TRENDS
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES Growing Awareness of Importance of I.C.T.Investment in Fibre Optic InfrastructureChanges in policiesDecrease or total removal of tax on most I.C.T.
imports Youth Development Funds
PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITIES Growing Employment of I.C.T.s in daily activitiesCompleted Fibre Infrastructure Projects:MTLESCOM and Malswitch (MALINK)Cost of technology and services decreasing
Competitiveness of Cellular NetworksZAIN, TNM & MTLZAP – Money Transfer Service Through Mobile
TechnologyBlackberry ServiceRoamingInternet
Competitiveness of the Banking IndustryNBS, MSB, OIBM,
(BIG Banks slide - lined – under dogs seem to be leading)
Credit Cards & Debit Cards (NBS and MSB)OIBM – Cash-back Services
Competitiveness of Internet Service ProvidersSkyband, MTL, TNM, ZAIN, BURCO, SDNP,
MALAWINETIncreased number of hotspot areasCheaper charges for internet use because of
increased competition
PUBLIC RESPONSEGrowing Usage of I.C.T. Infrastructuree.g. increase in internet users
(www.worldinternetstats.com)Increased Expectations because of public exposure
to different or newer services
OPPORTUNITIESDevelopment At Very High RatesSkilled Work ForceNon- Saturated market places:Customers with many unmet needsDirect Initiatives from Government to Attract
Investors (Malawi Investment Procurement Agencies)
WHY I.C.T. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUPPLY CHAINS
It can solve some of Malawi’s/Africa’s most pressing problems and challenges
High Unemployment RateLow Wages LeveragePositioningMovement
CHALLENGESSlow Development and Deployment of I.C.T.
Infrastructure e.g. Debit and Credit cards for e-commerce
Slow Decision Making ProcessHigh Illiteracy Levels (58 %)Cost of Technology
Cost of Doing BusinessLack of Professionalism amongst I.C.T. Practitioners
in MalawiGenerally Poor Customer ServiceAfrican DisporaFinancing / Funding HurdlesHigh Interest Rates
WAY FORWARDResearchI.C.T. Entrepreneurship DevelopmentsFacilitation of Generic Business Building CoursesI.C.T. Entrepreneurship training
RESEARCHFeasibility Business Orientated ResearchAcademic Orientated Research
DEPLOYMENT OF SOLUTIONSI.C.T. Entrepreneurship DevelopmentFacilitation of Business Building CoursesI.C.T. Entrepreneurship
OUR RECOMMENDATIONSInnovative Application of I.C.T. in Malawi
“African Solutions for African problems”Business to Entrepreneurship MentoringVirtual CompaniesBusiness to Business Learning
Networking and CollaborationIntroduction of Compulsory Business Awareness
CoursesNurturing of Tertiary Level Business Start-Ups,
Inventions, Innovations or LicensingCreating Incentives For Professional Business
Establishment
REFERENCES [1] Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs) from the Millennium Declaration.
(September 2000). (www.un.org/documents/ga/res/55/a55r002.pdf ) [2] “Guide to Investing in Malawi – 2009”, by MIPA – Malawi Investment Procurement
Agency”, 2009 [3] United Kingdom DTI Innovation Report -Competing in the global economy: The
Innovation Challenge. (December 2003). Department of Trade and Industry. http://www.dti.gov.uk/DTI/Pub7035/2k/12/03/NP.URN03/1607
[4] Malawi Growth and Development Strategy : From Poverty to Prosperity, 2006 – 2011 (MGDS). (2005).
[5] Vadim Kotelnikov (2007), Small and Medium Enterprises and I.C.T. UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme. http://www.apdip.net / http://www.unapcict.org, ISBN: 978-974-8283-93-7
[6] British Council Inter-Action campaign’s Leadership development initiative, campaign slogan