The Benefits PackageAdrian Schofield

President, Information Industry South Africa

Hanoi, Vietnam

November 25, 2003

Why an association?

• An association of like-minded members, coordinating ICT sector activities, facilitating cross-sectoral communication, promoting the interests of the ICT sector in your country

Structure

• Neutral territory• Share responsibilities• Combine resources• Credible representation• Member services• External services

Members

• Local vendors – distributors, resellers, consultants, specialists

• International companies• State owned enterprises• Professional individuals• Skills development institutes• Affiliates• And more…

Mission

• To bring together all stakeholders in the country’s ICT industry, to work together for the growth and development of the sector to the benefit of all

Activities

• International participation via WITSA

• Promotion of capacity

• Liaison with government

• Job creation

• Economic empowerment

• Education & training

• Promotion of awareness

• Commentary/thought leadership

Benefits – the list starts

• Strengthening the national brand– Promote core strengths & competencies

– Dialogue with analysts (IDC, Gartner, Forrester…)

– Informing embassies, consulates, trade desks

– Hosting CEO workshops abroad

– Guide members in doing business abroad

– Awards

– Generate media coverage

The list, page 2

• Liaison with local, state and federal government– Promote value of ICTs in government service delivery

– Assist with development of e-governance strategies & policies

– Partner in developing incubators, science parks

– Advise in developing appropriate tax policies

– Ensure procurement policies support local industry

– Lobbying for appropriate legislation & regulation

The list continues…

• Organising events– Premier national conference/exhibition– Regional exhibitions and seminars– Participation in major international events (WCIT, CeBIT,

COMDEX)

• Identifying business opportunities– Tender database (local and overseas)– Coordinate visits of foreign delegations– Network through affiliate bodies– Publish news and market intelligence– Finance, funding, investment…

It’s a long list…

• Conducting research– Annual survey of local market

– Target reports on specific overseas markets

– Participate in Digital Planet

• Hosting focus groups– e.g. Piracy, Payroll Software, Service Providers,

Recruitment

• Raising standards– Certification, ethics, skills development

Still more…

• Providing membership services– Mailers on topical issues– Regional meetings for members – business & social– Member directory– Support for SMEs (policies, templates, best practice)– Make sense of regulations– Regular newsletters– Discounts for events and publications– Employee benefit schemes– Trade and business insurance– Credit checking– Escrow– Mediation & arbitration

Is this the last?

• Managing the website– Member of the Week– Member news and success stories– Member directory– Hot links– The portal for your country’s technology

community

Lessons Learned

• Elect strong committee• Allocate resources, mainly time• Have clear objectives• Write sound business plan• Add value to members’ interests• Communicate with everyone

Time for a break

• Question time

• Tea time

Here’s a problem:

• You want to host the best-ever exhibition and conference to showcase your country’s ICT capacity to local and international buyers.

• You have no more than one year in which to make it happen.

• Put together a list of the resources you would need and an outline of the plan.

• Make a short presentation to your President/Prime Minister to get his/her support.

Thank you

• On behalf of the IT Mentors Alliance, thank you for your participation. Please enjoy your visit to Vietnam.

• We look forward to working with you as fellow members of WITSA and as colleagues in the information community.