A UNIDO Strategy to Promote ICT for SMEs

1. A UNIDO Strategy to Promote ICT for SMEs Hans Pruim UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION 21 April 2004

2. UNIDO in brief • UN specialized agency on industrial development • HQ Vienna, Austria • Staff on board: 600 + 35 field offices • Regular budget 2 y: $ 135 m • TC delivery 2 y: $ 170 m • see www.unido.org

3. UNIDO Networks 16 Investment and Technology Prom Offices 35 Field Offices 29 National Cleaner Production Centres 55 Subcontracting and Partnership Exchanges 8 Technology Centres/Networks

4. ICT and development Enhanced productivity and competitiveness Improved market access and value chains Increased industrial and economic development Poverty reduction

5. SMEs and ICTs • Poverty - income - employment • 90% of all enterprises are SMEs • SME 60 - 80 % of all employment • Promote SMEs, using of ICTs • productivity and competitiveness • Market access and business partnerships

6. UNIDO to address • An enabling environment for ICT business (producers and users) • Local production and services for ICT by SMEs to create affordable access • Increase use of ICT by SMEs for internal (productivity) and external business operations (competitiveness, market access)

7. UNIDO support programmes • National ICT strategy and policies to facilitate use of ICT • Competitive national ICT industries and support services, incl ICT partnerships • ICT knowledge • SMEs business information • SME e-business solutions

8. UNIDO value-added for ICT projects • Promoting SME productivity + competitiveness + market access • Public/private national partnerships • Building national capacity with focus S-S • Integration with regional TC activities • Links to global UNIDO networks • Enable international business partnerships

9. A. Facilitate use of ICT • Identification of challenges and constraints faced by the local ICT businesses • Assessment of the ICT infrastructure in the country • Assessment of the spread and use of ICT • Assessment of the availability of local or regional ICT training centers >> Policy recommendations to Governments

10. B. Competitive ICT industries • Computer hardware: manufacturing, repair and maintenance • Computer software: development, both customized and off-the-shelf • Telecommunication: level of development of the telecommunication • ICT support services >> Proposals for ICT projects and partnerships

11. C. SME and knowledge • SMEs business information • Strengthening and networking information sources >> Business information networks >> Web portals and ICT infrastructure • SME e-business solutions • Support for appropriate and scalable solutions and trusted e-business partners >> Enterprise Internet Solutions, >> Secure trading (e-trust and e-security)

12. Information needs of SMEs Technology SMEs Markets Finance Training

13. ICT knowledge • Ad-hoc ICT solutions for SME support institutions and Government • Business Information Solutions Network - a network with a One-Stop-Shop for SMEs: • OSS - Physical location for business advice and support • OSS linked into network of SME support institutions and information sources (BISnet) • Provider of information, ICT training and e-business services (value-added services)

14. BISnet – the OSS and its partners

15. SMEs and OSS services • Content: Information on Industrial, technology & market • Tools: ICT applications, Open Source Software • E-business • G2B: SME support information (subsidies, regulations, investment promotion), on-line company registration, e-procurement • G4B2B: Secure trade portals, e-security and e-trust • B2B: Enterprise Internet Solutions (web strategy, e-supply), business process outsourcing, teleworking

16. Set up of BISnet • Gap analysis of information needs and SME/ICT infrastructure • Development of business model/plan • Explore financing options (donors, self) • Partnership building process • Establishment of a commercial BISnet • Extension to rural areas – Rural Business Information Centres

17. Rural Business Resource Centers • Critical mass of clusters of SMEs • Individual business plans • Limited staff; OSS as backbone • Flexible ownership structure • Cooperation with existing Telecentres initiatives (PSDPC – Uganda, TACC – Egypt)

18. UNIDO ICT projects • Mediterranean: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco,Tunisia • Other countries: • Sub-Saharan: Djibouti, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda • Asia: China, Pakistan • Latin America: Cuba, Guatemala • Middle East: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia • Europe: CIS countries

19. Mediterranean: ongoing • Algeria: Réseau Algérien d’Information et de Connaissance Industrielle (MPME) • BISnet Egypt (SEDO) • Morocco: Réseau National de l‘Information Industrielle Marocain (MCIA) • Tunisia: Réseau National de l’Information Industrielle (MIE) • mediterraneanexchange.unido.org – end May (GAFI - Egypt, ANPME – Morocco, JIB –Jordan, API – Tunisia)

20. Follow-up • Incorporation of additional SME nodes with existing networks Algeria, Egypt, Morocco,Tunisia • Linking UNIDO networks with existing ICT initiatives in Mediterranean • Support for new national and regional initiatives

21. Further details In English, French and Spanish www.unido.org/doc/18761

22. www.unido.org pruim@unido.org