Clasificación de sockets

3.6.3

MoIC with relevant collaborating agencies has been trying to develop the ICT industry in Bhutan. Bhutan has edge over other countries in providing low cost, green hydro power which is a critical factor for the industry. Mobile coverage within the country has been remarkable and has a very stable government with a very strong green branding for Bhutan.

Yet the current telecom cost situation has not been favourable for the development beside the scalability in terms of manpower and market. However, in order to overcome the challenges and to develop the ICT industry, Bhutan needs to identify a niche area for the industry and government has to provide initial support for the industry.

Incentives and Grants

RGoB has created enabling environment for the industry to grow. Enabling environment includes fiscal incentives 5 _{and non fiscal incentives like providing land} on lease for 90 years, providing ancillary facilities beside other financial support to the Bhutan’s first IT Park , Thimphu TechPark and to the IT industry.

However telecom cost has always been an issue beside the local market and the scalability of the manpower.

As a short term measure, the investors locating in the Thimphu TechPark is provided with a telecom subsidy and the manpower has been trained. Initiatives has been undertaken to promote entrepreneurship in the country

In order to sustain the industry, initial support for the development of the industry is crucial.

Recommendations:

1. Scrutinize the requirement of incentives(MoF). 2. Subsidise telecom cost

3. Quality check of Internet services.

5  _{Foreign  Direct  Investment  (FDI)  Policy,  2010  and  Economic  Development  Policy,  2010}  

Strengthen the Bhutan ICT and Training Association (BICTTA)

For the ICT industry to grow, it is important to have a strong ICT association who could lead and guide the development of the ICT industry.

At present, Bhutan ICT and Training Association is in existence but with a very limited presence. To strengthen the BICTTA, build capability through collaboration and exchange programs with similar association around the region like NASSCOM in India, SITF in Singapore. This collaboration could also understand the structure of BICTTA and if necessary restructure the BICTTA with a very strong mandate and terms of reference. BICTTA also needs to be a registered body.

BICTTA presence will also be made very prominent through collaborating in organizing national ICT event with the aim to expand the events to international level. Initial support to BICTTA will also be provided to analyse/publish ICT trends and reports annually which will be fed into the planning for the ICT industry in future. The aim of this project will be to create a self sustaining strong Bhutan ICT and Training Association.

The success of this project will depend on the level of engagement from DHI, MoIC and BICTTA who will be leading this project.

DevelopBhutan TechVillage

The RGoB will develop BTV in Babesa which will include the current Thimphu TechPark campus developed in the 5 acres and expansion into the additional 13- acres serviced land.

The proposed plan in the 13-acre site is to build the ecosystem with the expansion ofthe TTP complex, build an independent commercial Data Centre infrastructure and an ITES/BPO company campus, for implementation.

Based on the success of the current project, it is recommended that PPP model be deployed/replicated for implementation of the next phase of the BTV project but with equivalent or more stake from local then an FDI company. In terms of the institutional ecosystem requirements for the BTV project, active involvement of relevant stakeholders like MoLHR, RUB, private sector and corporations will be crucial and must be ensured by the Government.

While the first PPP IT Park Project is intended to convince the Bhutanese and the world at large about Bhutan’s comparative advantages and catapult it to the next level of growth in the ICT sector, the journey towards this must be carefully calibrated and conditions nurtured. Also the current project is the facilitator for a more ambitious design of RGOB to attract steady and reliable investments into Bhutan. In order to achieve this, an additional 13 acres government land adjacent to the current 5-acre project site has been approved by RGOB for up-scaling the development and promotion of the IT/ITES/BPO industry. Leveraging on the investment promotion activities and roadshows undertaken so far, building up and sustaining the interests of globally reputed companies to invest in Bhutan will be part of the overall strategy for the Bhutan TechVillage (BTV).

Presently, DITT/MoIC and MoLHR have worked towards creating a talent pool for the Bhutan’s first IT Park. Approximately 1030 trained talent pool has been created. In the next phase i.e development of BTV, will have the capacity to recruit more than 3,000 Bhutanese in IT/ITES sector.

Therefore through this project, talent pool for the industry will be created with the following activities: introduction and implementation of an assessment of competency test that would entail assessing candidates on key IT/ITES skills through standard assessment thus making easier for firms to screen candidates and also provide training needs analysis to candidates and conducting Just-in-Time (JIT) training for potential candidates for employment with identified investors

BTV project will also aim to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and provide gainful employment to the growing youth population, promote inclusive growth and lay a stronger foundation for the Bhutanese economy.

At present,Incubation centre which is part of the Bhutan Innovation and Technology Centre(BITC), madated to support and grow entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country is housed in the Thimphu TechPark. Through this project, seed fund support for the incubation centre will be provisioned. Since BITC will have the required expertise and hence RGoB will provide seed fund as a support for growth of innovation and entrepreneurship.

This project will also strongly link up the colleges of Bhutan to the Incubation centre so that the young innovators have the path already laid down. Provision will also be

made to promote and support ICT innovators so that we have a pool of innovators who will have the potential to go global.

Therefore this project will promote the development of knowledge-based enterprises in Bhutan.

The estimated budget is Nu,250 m and will be implemented within the 11th _FYP ICT Manpower

Human Resource continues to plays a key role. Current status indicates that the IT manpower do not have a deep technical skills and is more appropriate for low end basic ICT jobs.

Though there are more than 200 ICT professionals with basic skills in the market but there is very less demand in the market. Therefore an ICT manpower and demand creation has to be developed simultaneously.

Bhutan also needs to identify niche area that has the potential to grow and develop the industry. Current analysis indicates that Media and Entertainment industry is growing strongly in Bhutan and Bhutanese have the required creativity skills.

Therefore opportunities for demand creations can be envisioned more towards graphics and animation due to creativity skills requirement, mobile services due to high penetration and good connectivity beside opportunities in the IT Park and bringing in global ICT investors.

Opportunities will also be created with policy intervention that MoLHR has been implementing. It is also important to have a strong linkage between the academia and industry to churn out better skilled manpower for the industry. Also provide more opportunities for on the job training between the Government, industry and academia.

With the demand creation, convergent curriculum will also be considered wherein any professionals can be converted to IT professionals.

This initiative ties in with the initiative to develop and implement the Bhutan Institute . Details can be found under Outcome: ICT for a Bhutanese Information Society.