ICT scenario of Nepal

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ICT scenario of Nepal
Manohar K Bhattarai Member, High Level Commission
for IT Government of Nepal Singdurbar, Kathmandu,
Nepal
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Presentation highlights

• Key indicators
• Policy perspectives

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Telecommunications scenario

• Fixed line
• telephone 485,997
• Post-paid mobile 1,04,789
• Pre-paid mobile 6,47,872
• Wireless in
• Local Loop 90,244
• Limited Mobility 16,500
• VSAT user 109
• 2028/3914 VDCs have access to telecom
• Internet users 250,000
• ISP 31
• PC 6.2 per 1,000

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Key indicators Infrastructure..contd

• F/o backbone along East-West highway Kathmandu
  Hetauda connected with OPGW through NEA
• First phase of IT Park in Kavre now operational

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Policy perspectives

• Aimed at creating conditions for the development
  of ICT sector as,
• An enabler for development and growth
• e-Government
• Expansion of ICT access to the communities
  through telecentres, etc
• Encouraging ICT up-take by businesses as
  productivity, market expansion and linkage tools
• A distinct economic sector
• Export of ICT products/ services
• Employment generation

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Policy and regulatory space

• IT Policy 2000 in force
• Revised IT Policy prepared and ready for cabinet
  approval
• Digital Signature and Electronic Transaction Act
  ratified by the parliament
• Favourable policy environment for FDI

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HR scenario

• Introduction of IT courses at school level
  started In 1992
• Four Universities and affiliated colleges provide
  ICT education courses.
• Privately run computer training outfits providing
  training in various skills set
• Almost 5000 IT graduates having varied set of
  competency profile enter job market every year

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Institutional arrangements

• Key government institutions active in ICT sector
• High Level Commission for IT/MoEST/NITC
• Formulation and implementation of IT Policy
• Policy oversight/ advocacy
• Strategic direction
• Ministry of Information and Communication
• CAN and ITPF in the private sector

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..Key ICT related initiative

• Preparation of E-government Master plan
• A major initiative with the support from KOICA
• ADB supported PPTA exercise underway

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Vision and Mission

• Building a strong and competitive country by
  establishing citizen-centered, transparent and
  networked government through utilization of
  advanced ICT

Value networking Nepal
G2B
Transparent
G2G
Networked
G2C
Citizen-centered

• For improving citizens convenience
• Providing on-line public service
• Diversification on service channel

• For facilitating business activity
• Providing one-stop public service
• Opening administration information and process

• For efficient administration
• Computerization,
• Integration,
• Standardization of government administration

Infrastructure
e-Government using state-of-the-art ICT
For improving nation-wide ICT Resource Favorable
ICT-based Facility / National Standard / ICT
Literacy HRD / Law Regulation / Organization
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.. Challenges remain

• ICT has yet to gain recognition as a priority
  sector beyond rhetoric. Public sector up-take of
  ICTs remains painfully slow
• Political attention diverted on pressing
  political imperatives.
• ICTs offer real prospects, but they are in many
  ways perceived to be disruptive technologies
• Change management
• Deeply entrenched bureaucratic set-up
• A set of competing development priorities to deal
  with
• Implementation of policy instruments remain weak
• .

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Finally,

• Lot of hope in the changed context
• New and modern Nepal key words
• Private sector activism in the area
• Businesses stand to gain most from proper
  deployment of ICTs (more efficient matching of
  demand and supply).. Quality and trust will
  continue to remain key attributes however
• ICTs are here to stay and grow.. The actual pace
  depending upon the role of the key players!!
• Key strategic question how can ICTs be actually
  leveraged meeting development and growth
  objective in a developing country
• .

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• THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION