Vision - January/February 2009 - (Page 45) of technology increases the long-term productivity and national competitiveness.” Cisco Systems Inc.’s Chairman/CEO John Chambers, also a TEC keynoter, promotes the value of bringing technology to developing markets and a reliance on public-private partnerships. Cisco focuses on “green field” opportunities, which includes opening new markets—especially bringing technology to emerging countries, often with government support. Cisco’s strategic relationship with YTL e-Solutions Berhad (YTLE) will establish a WiMAX core network in Malaysia. Wim Elfrink, Cisco’s executive vice president services and chief globalization officer, says this project is a “collaborative model [that] demonstrates how governments and technology leaders can together provide the network as a ‘fourth utility’ for delivering services that enhance business productivity and quality of life. By enabling the mobile Internet, YTLE and Cisco are helping to enhance the global competitiveness of Malaysia and its citizens.” The Malaysian project reflects Cisco’s focus on public sector projects. “Transformation of a country comes from a visionary government,” Elfrink adds, again focusing on communications networks as a “fourth utility,” supplementing the traditional development framework of roads, airports and harbors. “The network can play a big role as the equalizer of education and the platform for connectivity in general.” Integrating Projects for Success Grameen Solutions applies a similar approach when it tackles its integrated projects. The company is part of the Grameen family of organizations founded by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. He is www.ce.org also chairman of Grameen Solutions. The parent company controls about 20 firms, from banking and alternative energy to mobile phone operations. “Grameen” means “rural,” and its ventures have focused on providing services to build economic and technical capabilities. For example, Grameen Bank is the world’s largest microfinance lender. It has disbursed the equivalent of more than $6 billion U.S. in micro-credit since 1976 and has more than seven million borrowers. Grameen Trust, which runs Grameen Bank’s international program, is the largest global microfinance institutions network operating in 80 countries. For Kazi Islam, Grameen Solutions’ CEO, the process involves collaboration with partners who share the vision of developing “a bridge between the needs of emerging countries and the capabilities of global technology providers.” Sometimes this requires taking a fresh look at how things are done and finding ways to migrate toward technology solutions. He points to the problem of financial transactions in Bangladesh, where 80 percent of such activity still takes place using cash. Migrants moving to the capital city of Dhaka still send funds back to their home villages, often relying on the local post office or a trusted friend to carry the cash to their families. As a result, it becomes a barrier to trade since funds cannot be used while they are in slow, physical transit. “This could take months and it is not secure or cheap,” Islam says. Grameen explored ways to accelerate the funds transfer and now is providing a mobilebased solution, connecting carriers and banks. Islam sees the “perfect customer” as a Bangladeshi who does not have a bank account (about 70 percent of the population); Grameen provides a mobile solution that can move funds to any bank. Fairbanks, of the S.E.VEN Fund, endorses the concept of innovative delivery of muchneeded services. “In the era of total global competition for scarce resources, where ethnic groups are at war, and the rich are getting richer, enterprise and technology solutions to poverty represent, perhaps the best hope for poor nations,” Fairbanks says. The S.E.VEN Fund focuses on entrepreneurs and creative firms in developing nations, with an emphasis on supporting private-sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values. Microsoft’s Toyama sees unending opportunities in such an approach. He cites the evolving field of “information and communication technologies for development” (ICT4D), which seeks to apply modern technologies toward the cause of socio-economic development of poor communities. Expanding the Focus Most work, so far, has focused on what can be done with PCs and mobile phones, but increasingly, other consumer electronics are being considered, as well. “For example, micro-entrepreneurs in rural villages can start photo businesses with digital cameras and video recorders, and audio greeting cards could be used as an aid for adult education,” Toyama says. “It’s great to see the optimism and the energy of the technology industry being directed toward less privileged populations,” Toyama says. “The challenges are profound, and every bit of effort to address them is helpful. At the same time, as technologists, we have to be careful that we apply technology in a way that supports the end-goals of socio-economic development, whether it is universal healthcare, better education, good governance or something else.” Emerging markets are, as their name suggests, constantly changing and expanding. The best approach, most agree, is not to look at CE opportunities in new ways, but to perceive them as true business ventures. As Toyama recently told the New York Times, the real value comes in “longterm relationships” that support “continuing growth” of the overall economy. That helps everyone’s business.” • January/February 2009 Susan Liebold / Alamy 45 http://www.ce.org
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.