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Marketing
PSEB promotes the image of the Pakistan IT industry in key
markets abroad, enables trade interaction with international
parties, and facilitates the entry of multi-national development
and support centres into Pakistan.
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In fiscal 06-07, PSEB sponsored participation of ninety four
member companies in fourteen international tradeshows and
delegations, sponsored eleven domestic conferences,
developed joint action plans with five foreign governments
or industry associations, participated in forty one TV
interviews, eight radio interviews, forty two magazine
interviews and articles, and has issued over ninety press
releases.
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In addition,
four international promotional campaigns were run. Almost
two hundred and eighty two leads were passed on to member
companies in addition to over a thousand indirect leads.
Most potential customers and investors contact PSEB member
companies directly after getting information from the PSEB
website which receives a million hits each month with
seventy percent of the hits received from overseas.
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To date in
the current fiscal year 07-08, PSEB sponsored participation
of thirty eight member companies in four international
tradeshows and delegations, participated in twenty five TV
interviews, two radio interviews, thirty four magazine
interviews and articles, and has issued over twelve press
releases.
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To date in the current fiscal year 07-08, five international
promotional campaigns were run. One hundred and fourteen
business leads were passed on to member companies in
addition to over a thousand indirect leads. Most potential
customers and investors contact PSEB member companies
directly after getting information from the PSEB website
which receives a million hits each month with seventy
percent of the hits received from overseas.
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A Pakistan IT Industry Yearbook 07-08 has been completed and
published. This
maiden effort aimed to document the profiles of top IT
companies into a publication that presented an accurate and
detailed picture of the Pakistan IT Industry and its
multifold growth over the past few years.
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PSEB successfully organized mini-events in Dublin, Ireland
from 4 - 11 November in collaboration with the Embassy of
Pakistan in Dublin, Ireland-Pakistan Business Council,
Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Software Association (ISA).
The mini-events consisted of receptions and business
networking meetings with leading Irish companies. Several
companies reported successes in generating promising leads
and some have even submitted proposals.
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Strategy
In conjunction with stakeholders like PASHA, the industry
association, PSEB has developed a vision and strategic roadmap
to fast track IT industry growth.
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In the last fiscal year, 06-07 a nationwide census of IT
companies was conducted, a report estimating total industry
size was prepared, a four year strategic framework was
formulated, and an inter-departmental committee was
formulated to provide more accurate revenue figures.
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Considerable feedback has been received on the Gartner Group
draft report and these have been consolidated and forwarded
to the Gartner Group.
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Forrester is developing profiles on leading IT offshore
outsourcing companies in Pakistan for inclusion in a global
report, and PSEB has forwarded performas to leading IT
companies.
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Office Space Provision
PSEB plans to build IT Parks in different cities and
currently operates over 750,000 square feet of Software
Technology Parks (STP) in eleven buildings across the country.
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A Letter of Intent (LOI) is expected to be issued shortly for
the BOT development of the Islamabad IT Park following
clarifications on submitted proposals by bidders.
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Following the incidence of a fire in a private Software
Technology Park in Karachi, a Building IT Companies Tenant
Association was created to negotiate with the building owner on
damage repair. PSEB facilitated the dialog as well as relocation
where necessary.
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Industry HR
PSEB works with
the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to increase the influx
of quality graduates into the industry, facilitates matching
of graduates with IT companies, provides on-going trainings
and certifications to professionals, and undertakes research
to benchmark IT professionals and graduates in the country.
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In fiscal 06-07, sixty nine professionals participated in
PSEB-sponsored trainings and five hundred and twenty seven
interns were placed due to paucity of funds. This year, with
release of funding, number of trainings and interns are
expected to rise several folds.
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Several companies have suggested that short term foreign and
expatriate consultants would be preferable under the
proposed PSEB Expert Advisory Program. PSEB invites further
feedback particularly on the year long program.
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PSEB has submitted a draft PC-1 proposal on a nationwide
program for English Language and Soft Skills Development
with a focus on smaller towns to the National Vocational and
Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC).
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PSEB is working with International Commission for Work Force
Development (ICWFD) to launch an eLearning Program.
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Public Policy
PSEB
facilitates the creation of a public policy
environment including taxes, tariffs, trade, and
intellectual property protection to enable the
growth of the IT industry.
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The Prime Minister's Secretariat has decided that removal of
GST on computers, as proposed by PSEB, will be considered
when the next budget 08-09 is prepared.
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The gap analysis report on the Data
Confidentiality Act from M/s Jamil and
Jamil is now expected in the third
week of November following a delay by
the consultant.
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Industry Finance
PSEB is working with stakeholders to
create a financing and funding ecosystem
for the IT industry.
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PSEB is awaiting direction from
the Prime Minister's Secretariat on the proposal for the
promotion of venture capital in the country.
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Company
Capability Development
PSEB sponsors quality and
information security certification
of IT companies in order to
enhance their international
competitiveness.
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In the last fiscal year, 06-07, under PSEB-sponsored
programs, one CMMi L5 rating, one CMMi L3 rating, one CMMi
L2 rating, and one ISO 27001 certification were obtained.
Two companies became SEI transition partner companies, and
two individuals became SCAMI appraisers. In the current
fiscal year, 07-08 five CMMi L2 ratings have been obtained
and two companies have become SEI Transition Partners.
Pakistan now has over 110 ISO-certified IT companies, over
fifty ISO IT lead auditors, and will have over 20 CMMi rated
companies by the end of the current year - making it a world
leader in this category. Currently, there is one CMMi L5
company, one CMM L5 company, three CMMi L3 companies, six
CMMi L2 companies, one ISO 27001 certified company, four SEI
Transition Partner companies and two SCAMPI appraisers.
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In November 2007, PSEB will be
selecting an additional three
companies to undergo CMMi L2
consulting, one company for CMMi L3,
and five companies for ISO 27001.
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Facilitation
PSEB facilitates IT companies
in their interaction with
various Government agencies
and also launches programs in
areas of strategic importance
where the private sector is
shy of investing. In the last
year, the Open Source Centre
has conducted twenty six
workshops, training over four
hundred and fifty people,
facilitated one migration, and
published internationally
recognizing training
toolkits..
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In the last fiscal year 06-07, visa processing was
facilitated for one hundred and seventy one individuals.
Foreign currency remittance NOCs for purchase of software
were processed and issued to fifty nine companies, and
corporate advisory services have been provided to numerous
companies and individuals. To date, in the current fiscal
year visa processing was facilitated for sixty six
individuals.
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Seventeen new IT companies were registered with PSEB in
this reporting period in addition to eight call centres.
Thirty three IT companies and four call centres have renewed
their registrations.
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In the last fiscal year, 06-07 PSEB's OSRC (Open Source
Resource Centre), thirty three workshops and seminars,
trained over eight hundred and fifty people, facilitated
three migrations and published an internationally recognized
training toolkit which has been downloaded 25,532 times in
addition to six hundred printed versions that were
distributed. To date in the current fiscal year 07-08, OSRC
has conducted nineteen workshops and seminars, trained over
ninety two people, and facilitated three migrations.
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In the current reporting period, three training workshops
and one migration were conducted in Haroon Textile Mill
Gujranwala.
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GBMS, a PSEB commissioned ERP developed by AZM Computer
Services, for the Ready Made Garments and Hosiery industry,
has been successfully implemented at eight units resulting
in 60% reduction in order fulfilment time and 40%
improvement in productivity.
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Autoplus, a PSEB commissioned ERP developed by Acrologix,
for the Automotive Parts and Accessories industry, is now
being implemented at six units following successful
implementation at a model unit.
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UNDP is assessing the feasibility of bundling their GENPROM
initiative for gender promotion with PSEB's GBMS project
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Tel: 051-9211124 |
Fax: 051 9204075 | Email:
info@pseb.org.pk | URL:
www.pseb.org.pk
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