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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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Over the last year, PSEB has sponsored participation of one
hundred and twenty two member companies in seventeen
international tradeshows and delegations, sponsored eleven
domestic conferences, developed joint action plans with five
foreign governments or industry associations, participated
in sixty five TV interviews, nine radio interviews, fifty
eight magazine interviews and articles, and has issued over
ninety eight press releases.
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In addition,
nine international promotional campaigns were run. Almost
three hundred and sixty eight 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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PSEB has
launched an online advertisement campaign featuring the
Pakistan IT industry on Google USA, UK and Pakistan. The
objective is to route users searching key words like
“outsourcing services”, “BPO”, and “Software Outsourcing” to
the PSEB website. Banner ads will also run periodically on
Google’s content network that includes leading websites like
the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and NASDAQ.
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After the success of mini-events held in UK in April 2007,
PSEB is now organizing mini-events Ireland from November 7 –
10. Thirteen companies are participating.
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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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The first draft of the PSEB Commissioned Gartner Group Study
on the Pakistan IT industry has been received and is
undergoing review by PSEB, PASHA and key stakeholders. Based
on this feedback, a revised version will be prepared in
November 2007.
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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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An international consortium that submitted a conformant bid for
the construction of the Islamabad IT Park on Build Operate
Transfer (BOT) basis has been asked to clarify certain aspects
of its bid document following which a Letter of Intent (LOI)
will be issued.
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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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To date, seven hundred and ten IT professionals have
participated in PSEB-sponsored trainings and three thousand
and seventy interns have been placed
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Three additional companies have applied for PSEB’s
Specialized Training Grant of up to USD 30,000 each.
Additional companies are invited to apply as funding is
available.
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PSEB is soliciting IT industry feedback on a proposed Expert
Advisory Program under which expatriates and foreigners
would work with IT companies in Pakistan on short term and
long term assignments with the help of a PSEB subsidy.
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PSEB is working with National Vocational and Technical
Education Commission (NAVTEC) on the launch of a nationwide
program for English Language and Soft Skills Development
with a special focus on smaller towns.
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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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M/s Jamil and Jamil, who have been contracted by PSEB to
prepare a Data Confidentiality Law, will now submit its
report on Industry Need Assessment and Gap Analysis in the
first week of November 2007. The report has been delayed due
to inclusion of international stakeholders in order to
enhance the quality of the Act based on international best
practices and also to accommodate the views of international
stakeholders seeking to send their confidential data to
Pakistan for processing
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The Prime Minister’s Secretariat is
still considering a PSEB proposal for
the removal of GST on computers and of
import duties and levies on call
centre equipment following feedback by
FBR (Federal Bureau of Revenue).
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A meeting on the draft Prevention of Electronic Crimes
Bill was facilitated by PSEB between industry reps and the
Ministry of IT on October 10. Minutes were circulated and a
video clip of the three hour meeting is available at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y6DvJ4zKL8
While some changes were
made in the draft act based on consensus among attendees,
the meeting concluded with continuing differences of
opinions on some important matters.
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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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Based on feedback from the
Ministry of IT, a revised structure and methodology for the
promotion of venture capital in Pakistan has been submitted to
the Ministry for onwards submission to the Prime Minister’s
Secretariat for approval.
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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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Under PSEB-sponsored programs, 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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Descon Information Systems, a
customized solutions provider to the
construction, financial, energy and
public sectors, has achieved CMMi L2
under a PSEB program.
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NetSol Technologies, a leading global
IT solutions and services provider,
has passed the stage one ISO 27001
audit and has qualified for the stage
two audit which is expected in
December 2007
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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 current calendar year, visa processing has been
facilitated for two hundred and twenty 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.
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Nineteen new IT companies were registered with PSEB in
this reporting period in addition to six call centres. Forty
six IT companies and eight call centres have renewed their
registrations.
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Under PSEB’s OSRC (Open Source Resource Centre) Project,
eight training workshops and one migration were conducted in
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.
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Implementation of AutoPlus, an open source ERP for the
automotive sector, by Acrologix under a PSEB program has
resulted in 50% reduction in finance manpower, 85% savings
in financial processing time and other dramatic improvements
in a model unit. .
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Tel: 051-9211124 |
Fax: 051 9204075 | Email:
info@pseb.org.pk | URL:
www.pseb.org.pk
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