The National Computer Board. A Retrospective of 2003 NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 The National Computer Board A Retrospective of 2003 NEWSLETTER

2 M e s s a g e s HON. DEELCHAND JEEHA Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications Mauritius Since the Government announced its vision of transforming Mauritius into a Cyber Island and a regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub, the country has come a long way in assembling all the prerequisites to develop its ICT sector. The setting up of the Ebène Cyber City, the liberalisation of telecommunications, the introduction of tailor-made fiscal incentives and appropriate legal framework, the development of skilled human resources, the on-going e- government initiatives and the increasing number of foreign ICT players setting up operations on the island are clear-cut indications that Mauritius is now well poised to become a Cyber Island. The National Computer Board has significantly contributed in paving together our national goal and will continue to have a strategic role to play in the development of our ICT sector. I wish them plenty of success in their mission. MR SURESH MUNBODH Chairman of the National Computer Board ICT is the next engine of economic growth and is poised to be the fifth pillar of the economy. The National Computer Board (NCB) has geared its strategic focus towards promoting and sustaining the development of the ICT sector in Mauritius. With the commitment of one and all in the organisation, the NCB has contributed to this national endeavour. It has promoted a number of initiatives in 2003 aiming at disseminating ICT culture at national level, promoting ICT industry development and entrepreneurship and assisting in e-government initiatives. This newsletter highlights main activities undertaken by the NCB. I wish to congratulate the team of the NCB for their continuous collaboration and efficient work and would welcome suggestions from our dear readers in further promoting the development of ICT to meet our country's goal. NCB S MISSION AND OBJECTIVES The mission of the National Computer Board (NCB) is to promote the accelerated diffusion of Information Technology in every socio-economic sphere of Mauritius in line with the national goals and policies. The objectives of the NCB are: To foster the development and growth of information technology, information systems and computer related services in Mauritius; OTo advise the bgovernment j eon the formulation c tof national i vpolicies ein respect sof the promotion, development and control of information technology and its applications; To assist in the framing of appropriate national education, training and research plans in the field of information technology in order to build the necessary expertise base for consolidating the information technology industry in Mauritius; and To ensure data protection and security. II CONTENTS Messages from Hon. Minister of IT & Telecom and the Chairman of the NCB NCB Mission Statement & Objectives ii Message from the Executive Director of the NCB Industry Development iii iii-x NCB Incubator Centre ICT Culture Promotion x-xi xii-xiv E-Government Main Events 2004 xv xvi

3 MR KEMRAZ MOHEE Executive Director of the National Computer Board In line with the national goals of transforming Mauritius into a Cyber Island, the mission of the NCB has been to develop and promote the ICT sector in Mauritius. The NCB has spared no efforts in contributing to this national initiative. This publication gives a retrospective of the achievements of the NCB during the year The opening of an office in Bangalore for promoting the ICT industry and for technology transfer, the setting up of the Government Online Centre to enable e-government, the introduction of a third Cyber Caravan to accelerate ICT culture awareness and the setting up of a second Incubator Centre to encourage entrepreneurship in the ICT sector are among the new challenges which are being undertaken by the NCB. I would like to thank the staff and Board Members of the NCB for their dedication and continuous support in fulfilling our mission. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT The NCB pursues various activities to develop the ICT industry in Mauritius, create awareness on latest technologies and promote entrepreneurship and job creation in the ICT sector. EXHIBITIONS, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS In view of continuously developing the ICT industry in Mauritius, the NCB organised and participated in a number of exhibitions, workshops and seminars throughout INFOTECH November, Freeport Operations Mauritius Ltd (FOM) Exhibition Centre, University of Mauritius & Le Labourdonnais Hotel The NCB has been organising INFOTECH ( an ICT exhibition and conference event, on an annual basis since 1996, with the objectives to: create and disseminate awareness on latest technologies in ICT demonstrate local expertise Opening of Infotech 2003 by the Prime Minister, Hon. Paul Raymond Bérenger. display and promote products and services offer a meeting and contacts platform for local ICT operators to develop collaboration with technology partners and customers sensitise on career opportunities in the ICT sector III

4 In 2003, Infotech was officially launched by the Prime Minister, Honourable Paul Raymond Bérenger, and comprised 4 main components: Exhibition at the FOM Fifty-two companies demonstrated their products and services in hardware, software, network products, computer accessories and basic training. 9 other companies showcased their products and solutions in business applications, consultancy services, software and multimedia development, IT-enabled services (ITES), and education and high level training to potential corporate clients and partners. More than 25,000 people attended the exhibition. 81.5% of companies surveyed found potential customers for their products / services and 66.7% achieved their objectives. NCB Cyberspace at the Exhibition. ICT Week at Le Labourdonnais Hotel Key speakers from the public and private sectors were invited to address three main themes over 3 days, namely: E-Government, E-Education and E-Business. The conference days were respectively opened by Hon. D. Jeeha, Minister of IT and Telecommunications, Hon. S.Obeegadoo, Minister of Education and Scientific Research and Hon. S.Kushiram, Minister of Economic Development, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs. The response was very positive, with an average of 150 people attending each conference and the general appreciation being that the sessions were Conference during the ICT Week. highly informative. IV

5 A Retrospective of 2003 Career Forum at the University of Mauritius The objective was to create awareness on education, training needs and career opportunities in the ICT sector, especially in ITES, business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centres activities. Some 150 university students and school leavers attended the forum. The opening address was made by Hon. Sangeet Fowdar, Minister of Training, Skills Development & Productivity. Product Demos at the FOM 21 companies had the opportunity to promote and demonstrate their products & solutions to the public. Between 10 and 30 people attended each presentation. WORKSHOP ON GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR THE GLOBAL INFORMATION SOCIETY 14 October, Domaine Les Pailles Each year, members of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) celebrate the World Standards Day to pay tribute to the collaborative efforts of experts worldwide who develop voluntary technical agreements that are published as international standards. In 2003, the tribute went to experts on ICT, under the Global Standards for the Global Information Society theme. A one-day workshop was held to create awareness on the importance of standards. Over 50 people attended the event. Hon. Deelchand Jeeha addressing the audience on the occasion of the Workshop on Global Standards for the Global Information Society. V

6 ONE - DAY CONFERENCE ON CYBERCRIME 29 September, Le Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel The conference targeted decision makers, information security staff, auditors, accountants, ICT professionals and students, and aimed at creating awareness on: 1. Different types of Cybercrimes and their international dimension; 2. Provisions in the legal framework to combat Cybercrimes; and 3. Security challenges facing businesses. About 100 people attended the workshop. Hon. Deelchand Jeeha at the Opening of the Conference on Cybercrime. Talk on Network Layers by Dr. N. Chandrasekaran, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India. PARTICIPATION IN JOB FAIR September, Malabar, Rodrigues The job fair, organised by the Commission for Education, was inaugurated by the then President of the Republic, Mr. K. A. Offman. The aim of the event was to offer a platform for the promotion of economic activities in Rodrigues and assess potential avenues towards which training could be geared. The NCB made two presentations on Opportunities of Employment offered by ICT. Students and school leavers showed much interest in exploring job prospects in this sector. The NCB also had a stand at the job fair and met with stakeholders from various sectors of activities. More than 300 people visited the stand. An assessment report was submitted to the Commission for Education and Training following the event. VI

7 A Retrospective of 2003 WORKSHOP ON ICT FOR SMES 17 September, Le St Georges Hotel Bertrand Lazare from Indialley was invited to deliver an address on Messaging and Management of Information for Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) using ICT at this workshop. 45 people from different sectors, including furniture making, jewellery, printing and textiles, attended the workshop. Bertrand Lazare addressing the audience at the Workshop on ICT for SMEs. AWARD CEREMONY / SHOWCASING OF PROJECTS 11 September, The University of Mauritius Following a short course on Entrepreneurship Development in the ICT sector organised by the NCB and the University of Mauritius, a ceremony was held to award certificates to university students. Hon. Deelchand Jeeha, Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, addressed participants on this occasion. Students of the Faculty of Engineering were also invited to present an ICT project with a commercial value. Out of 18 projects proposed, three were short listed as the best ones: 1. Island Information System 2. Automation of Batch Vacuum Pan using controllers at MTMD Factory 3. An automated system to detect fungi caused diseases on sugarcane leaves using signature and moments analysis Presentation of one of the proposed ICT projects. VII

8 WORKSHOP ON OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS 07 August, Le Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel A one-day workshop was organised with the objective to create awareness on the concept of Open Source Software (OSS) and its evolution, and to share local expertise on the application of OSS in Mauritius. COURSE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE ICT SECTOR 14 June-19 July, The University of Mauritius Further to the positive response to the sensitisation campaign on entrepreneurship development in April 2003, a short course on Entrepreneurship Development in the ICT sector was proposed to university students, encompassing topics on the preparation of business plans, road maps for setting up a business in the field of ICT, legal implications, marketing for entrepreneurs, managing people, negotiation skills, and accounting and book keeping. Courses included local case studies and presentations by start-ups of the NCB Incubator Centre and local institutions such as the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM). 112 students attended the course. WORKSHOP ON OPPORTUNITIES BY ICT FOR SMES 14 May, Le St Georges Hotel The NCB organised a half-day workshop to sensitise SMEs on opportunities offered by ICT to increase management efficiency and boost up productivity in business. 50 SMEs attended the workshop. SENSITISATION CAMPAIGN ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT April 2003, The University of Mauritius The NCB and the University of Mauritius organised a campaign to sensitise students on core issues of business creation in the ICT sector. Topics covered included entrepreneurship development in the ICT sector, the incubation centre and incentives and facilities offered by various institutions including the BOI and the DBM. More than 100 students attended the session. PARTICIPATION OF THE NCB IN THE AGOA EXHIBITION January, The Freeport Operations Mauritius Ltd (FOM) Exhibition Centre The NCB shared a stand with the Business Parks of Mauritius Ltd (BPML) at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Exhibition, which offered an excellent opportunity for the NCB to promote the Mauritian ICT sector and provide information to potential investors. About 200 people, mainly from Africa and the USA, visited the stand. VIII

9 A Retrospective of 2003 REPORT ON THE STATUS OF ICT IN RODRIGUES Following a request from the Rodrigues Assembly through the Commission for Education and Training, the NCB carried out on an assessment of the state of the ICT industry in Rodrigues, including the state of the telecommunications infrastructure and the Internet, the use of ICT in the public sector, the private sector, SMEs, and education, the penetration of ICT among the general population and incentives for promoting the use of ICT. PROMOTION OF THE MAURITIAN ICT INDUSTRY ABROAD The NCB endeavours to promote the local industry on the international scene and market Mauritian ICT companies abroad. SALON EUROPÉEN DES CENTRES DES CONTACTS ET DE LA RELATION CLIENT (SECA) May 2003, Paris The NCB, in collaboration with the BOI, organised the participation of Mauritius in SECA, the annual European specialised exhibition which gathers call centres and key players of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). The Mauritian delegation was led by Honourable Deelchand Jeeha, Minister of IT and Telecommunications and comprised representatives of government and private sector institutions, which were housed under the Mauritian stand. The objective of the participation of the NCB was to provide information on ICT development in Mauritius, promote Mauritius as a competing location for call centre activities and assist local ICT companies to establish business contacts with potential joint venture partners and outsourcers. Mauritian Pavillon at SECA IX

10 The NCB met with various call centre operators and outsourcers and informed them about developments taking place in the ICT sector in Mauritius, especially as regards physical infrastructure (existing technology parks, construction of the Cyber City and telecommunications), human resources and training, incentives offered by Government to investors and ICT opeators. The NCB also organised a workshop on 22 May at which the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications was the keynote speaker. The Minister s address focused on promoting Mauritius as a right destination for call centre activities. Response from the audience was excellent. The workshop attracted more people than the capacity of the 72-seater conference room and participants expressed their appreciation for the fruitful interaction with Mauritian delegates during the workshop. THE NCB ICT INCUBATOR CENTRE The NCB has set up an Incubator Centre to promote entrepreneurship development and boost job creation through the provision of necessary logistical and infrastructural support at concessionary rates to start-ups in the ICT sector. The 5,000 square foot Incubator Centre ( came into operation in January 2003 and was officially launched by Hon. Deelchand Jeeha, Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications, on 21st April The Centre comprises of 8 modular units of 21m 2 of office space. FACILITIES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE INCUBATOR CENTRE Infrastructural support including furnished office space at preferential rate and equipped X with broadband connectivity, secretariat services, etc. Guidance for sources of finance Advisory and consultancy services Marketing of the start-ups Training through Entrepreneur Personal Development Programmes Guidance as to emerging trends and technologies in the ICT sector.

11 A Retrospective of 2003 THE START-UPS Six enterprises, with a total proposed investment amount of Rs. 2,440 million, joined the Incubator Centre in 2003 to conduct activities such as software and website development, multimedia development and graphic design, e-business, e-learning, etc. Out of these six start-ups, 1 company has met with significant success and has set up its own facilities in Tamarin since December Official opening of the NCB ICT Incubator Centre XI

12 ICT CULTURE PROMOTION The NCB creates awareness on the applications and uses of ICT with the view to bridge the digital divide in Mauritius. SCHOOL IT COMPETITION This annual website design and development competition has been organised by the NCB since 2000 to promote the use of the Internet as an education and research instrument among secondary school students. Projects submitted are assessed by a panel jury consisting of professionals from the ICT and education sectors. Last year, the NCB launched the School IT Competition in February The theme for 2003 was Schools of the Future. 60 teams from 36 schools participated, out of which 31 submitted a project. The 1st prize went to Saint Joseph College, the 2nd Prize to Patten College Boys and the 3rd Prize to Queen Elizabeth College. Two Special Prizes were given to Queen Elizabeth College and to the Muslim Girls College each. Information on previous years projects are available on ICT AWARD ICT PROJECT COMPETITION The NCB launched the ICT Award ICT Project Competition for the first time in May 2003 to encourage the exchange of ideas among tertiary education students on ways in which ICT can be used to achieve the vision of transforming Mauritius into a Cyber Island. The chosen theme was ICT as an engine of economic growth for Mauritius. Ten teams from six institutions participated in the competition. 5 teams submitted their projects, which were assessed independently by the 6 jury panel, and made oral presentations of their projects. The first prize was awarded to the N.I. Team from the University of Mauritius; the runner-up was the Dream Team from the Industrial and Vocational Training Board. XII Further details on the project are available on

13 A Retrospective of 2003 NCB CYBER CARAVANS Launched in 2000, the Cyber Caravan Project aims at spreading ICT facilities in the most isolated areas in Mauritius through NCB s Cyber Caravans. The NCB presently operates two Cyber Caravans, which are equipped with 9 and 10 work stations respectively and Internet connection. Two ICT animators provide training on board according to the needs of people, regardless of age, education background or profession. There are four types of training programmes: 1. ICT Literacy 2. ICT Introductory Course 3. ICT Awareness 4. ICT Awareness Programme for Children In 2003, the Caravans visited about 415 centres and associations and provided facilities and training to some 9,100 people, including disabled people, unemployed people, municipality staff, housewives, senior citizens and primary school and college students. Booking for courses offered by the Cyber Caravans can be made through local social associations, clubs or community centres, or by contacting the NCB directly. A reservation form is also available online: One of NCB s Cyber Caravans. Hon. Deelchand Jeeha visiting one of NCB s Cyber Caravans. Facilities inside the Cyber Caravans. XIII

14 WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY 17 th May Since 2001, the NCB has been organising a number of public campaigns and activities annually to commemorate the World Telecommunication Day ( In 2003, the Cyber Caravans visited 11 primary schools and 1 civic club and presented one and a half hour ICT Awareness Programmes on trends in telecommunications to primary school students on this occasion. INTERNET FIESTA March The Internet Fiesta ( also known as Fête de l Internet, was organised in Mauritius for the first time in 2001, under the aegis of the NCB. The theme for the Internet Fiesta 2003 was Expatriation today!, in recognition of the crucial role of the world wide web in allowing expatriates to stay in touch with their own language and culture. Numerous organisations (for example, Albion Computer Club, the University of Mauritius, Telecom Plus and DCL) proposed various initiatives, such as quiz competitions, free Internet access time, promotional activities in cyber cafés, etc., and seized this opportunity to announce their innovative projects linked to the development of the Internet. On this occasion, the NCB Cyber Caravans provided ICT Awareness courses and made presentations on Internet Opportunities at primary and secondary schools and at social welfare centres. XIV

15 A Retrospective of 2003 E-GOVERNMENT One of the strategic objectives of the NCB is to assist in e-government initiatives aiming at providing citizens and businesses with round-theclock online services. WEB SITES The NCB manages the web server which hosts all Government websites. As at 2003, web sites were created for 26 ministries and 67 government departments and para statal bodies. STANDARDS & PRACTICES Following Government decision to adopt ISO/IEC IT Security Standards for the civil service, the E-Government Task Force requested that an Implementation Committee chaired by the NCB be set up to prepare an implementation plan. This Committee recommended the creation of an IT Security Unit within the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications and the appointment of IT Security consultants to develop a methodology on how to implement IT Security in Government. The NCB participated in the selection of the consultancy firm for the exercise and is presently a member of the Steering Committee in charge of monitoring the Consultancy Services for the implementation of ISO/IEC Security Standards in the Civil Service. THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES (GES) The GES project was launched in 2001 and consists in setting up the infrastructure for providing systems for government employees so as to improve communication between ministries, government departments and the public. In 2003, services were set up for 382 users, the total number of users amounting to 2,919 in December Statistics on the usage of the GES are compiled regularly and a directory of addresses for civil service use is available on-line ( XV

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