Benin ICT Sector Performance Review 2009/2010 To have qualified human resources, the condition sine qua non for the fulfilment of the State strategic vision, it will be necessary to act along three axes: • To promote the creation of engineer training subsidiaries of which the profile corresponds to convergence trades (voice, data, sound and video) in order to create a critical mass of ICT specialists capable of drawing direct investments to Benin. • To promote professional certification in the profession such as network configuration and administration, the design and administration of data bases and the mastery of development tools in order to offer internationally recognized qualifications on the market. To this purpose, the creation of recognized test centres will be encouraged so that the Beninese will not have to go to other countries in order to take their exams. • To promote training in emerging occupations. The availability of these qualifications will make Benin more attractive as it will avoid companies investing time and significant amounts on on-the-job training before establishing themselves. Finally, mass programmes will be encouraged in order to enlarge the national ICT service consumption volume. To reduce the country’s strong dependence on imported ICT products, the local solution development incentive will be strong. Thus, the Beninese State will encourage the local development of software with content adapted to the needs of companies using value added services in the Beninese and sub-regional markets. The search for technical partners who are able to carry out the transfer to the Beninese will continue. The development of applications for mobile telephones will be promoted, as this will contribute to the amelioration of the digital divide due to the high penetration rate of this medium to the population. The different sectors of the economic and social life of Benin (finances, education, health, commerce, tourism, agriculture) and the local authorities will design ICT applications responding to their concerns. Finally, to make Beninese value added exports and job creation companies competitive, the State will create a business park or cyber-city, supplied with a high speed connection and support services inherent to this type of structure. The investments code will be readjusted so that Beninese companies will be placed under the same conditions as their competitors in other countries. It will translate to an investment attraction policy and encourage delocalization of multinationals in Benin (services, industries). The regulation authority will see to it that the rates charged are as competitive as those offered in the other countries of the sub-region. 5 To reduce the country’s strong dependence on imported ICT products, the local solution development incentive will be strong.