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ICT in Bhutan

ICT in Bhutan. Challenges and Opportunities. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan. Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan. Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004.

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ICT in Bhutan

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  1. ICT in Bhutan Challenges and Opportunities Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004

  2. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 ICT in Bhutan – Presentation Structure • Bhutan Background • New Ministry - Policy Challenges • Digital Opportunity Initiative and Bhutan ICT Policy and Strategies • Free and Open Source Software • Obstacles into Opportunities • Future directions – Bhutan and APDIP • A half-baked idea …

  3. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 • Gross National Happiness, not Gross National Product • Small (700,000 people) • Mountainous – up to 7500m –steep terrain • Dispersed rural population • Not rich (LDC, LLC) • Embryonic ICT sector Bhutan – Brief Background

  4. - Overarching? MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS -Freestanding? MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMS HEALTH EDUCATION AGRICULTURE - Cross-cutting? -Underpinning? Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 Where does new Ministry sit in Government?

  5. Strategic Compact Human Capacity Policy Infrastructure Content & Applications Enterprise Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 ICT Policy Process – Digital Opportunity Initiative 2 previous attempts, but no national ownership or political will • Five concurrent Committees • Cross-cutting membership; overseen by Council of Secretarys • But … • Donors? Resource mobilisation? • Participatory? • Sector plans – eg health?

  6. piracy TRIPS WTO Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 FOSS, WTO and culture- no laughing matter Language = cultural heritage = national sovereignty MS Office/XP = $250 = 143 days salary (Bhutan) = 2.5 days salary (US) Option 2 : Pentium I (donated) $0 + Open Office CD $1 = $1 (+ installation) Option 1 : Pentium IV $1200 + MS Office/XP $250 = $1450

  7. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004  Wireless?  FOSS?  SME development?  (Indian joint ventures?) Obstacles into opportunities 1. Mountainous, dispersed population living in hamlets 2. Cost of software relative to income 3. Small ICT sector

  8. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 Future Directions – Bhutan and APDIP Commenced : - FOSS – IDRC / NUCES PAN localisation - A2I initiative – DGTTF3 – portal, access points, services APDIP : - SMEs - Appropriate industry development - Wireless – possible solution for rural areas? UNDP Bhutan : - ICT and Crisis Prevention / Recovery - ICT4D Donor Co-ordination – meeting soon! RGOB : - E-government strategy - Private sector development (outsourcing) - Preservation of cultural heritage - Awareness-raising – AV material, Korean IT Ambassadors?

  9. Information Network FOSS Developers UNDP ICT4D Practice • Distributed knowledge base • Many people (nodes) knowledge codified (peer reviewed, product improved) • Embedded knowledge • Continual updating • Knowledge Products • thematic papers • Best practices etc Information Product FOSS Software Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 February 2004 Open source model of knowledge management? Finally, a half-baked idea…

  10. Christopher Faris ICTD Focal Point, UNDP Bhutan Presented at APDIP POWII Workshop Kuala Lumpur, 12-14 Feb Thank you & Tashi Delek

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