Private-Sector Initiative Tackles Digital Divide; New G8-Sponsored Entity Taps Technology and Entrepreneurship To Help Transform Developing Economies.Business & High-Tech Editors A team of private-sector companies brought together by the G8's Digital Opportunity Task Force today announced the creation of the DOT Force Entrepreneurial Network In business, entrepreneurial networks are social organizations offering different types of resources to start or improve entrepreneurial projects. Having adequate human resources is a key factor for entrepreneurial achievements. (DFEN), an organization to help small- and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and entrepreneurs overcome the "Digital Divide" and stimulate economic and social growth in developing countries. DFEN will provide financing of up to CDN (Content Delivery Network) A system of distributed content on a large intranet or the public Internet in which copies of content are replicated and cached throughout the network. $2 million to SMEs and entrepreneurs planning to use information and communication technology (ICT (1) (Information and Communications Technology) An umbrella term for the information technology field. See IT. (2) (International Computers and Tabulators) See ICL. 1. (testing) ICT - In Circuit Test. ) in innovative and creative ways in the developing world. It will also help by sharing best practices, opening access to global markets, and providing technical and training support. In addition, the organization will advise SMEs and entrepreneurs on how to shape public policy support for ICT in their own countries. The initial focus of its activities will be Africa. The DFEN initiative brings together powerful expertise and global reach. The founding participants are Accenture, the global management consulting Noun 1. management consulting - a service industry that provides advice to those in charge of running a business service industry - an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects and technology services organization; Hewlett-Packard, the information technology provider; Telesystem, the Canadian-based private equity company; and Open Economies, the policy center run in association with Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (colloquially, Harvard Law or HLS) is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Law is considered one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States. . Vernon Ellis, Accenture's international chairman, said, "By bringing together the energy and drive of local entrepreneurs and the power of information and communication technology, this effort can help generate significant social and economic change." "We believe that all people should have access to the social and economic opportunities of the digital age," said Debra Dunn, senior vice president, Hewlett-Packard. "This new organization will help provide that access through the use of ICT tools and other resources." Charles Sirois Charles Sirois (born 1954) is a Canadian businessman. He is the founder, controlling shareholder, Chairman and CEO of Telesystem Ltd., a Canadian private equity company. , chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Telesystem, emphasized, "The key of the DOT Force Entrepreneurial Network initiative is to help entrepreneurs who can bring the multiple benefits of ICT in local economies by fostering public and private partnerships, innovation and lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. ." The organization is being launched with support from G8 member countries, with initial funding of CDN$10 million provided by the Government of Canada The Government of Canada is the federal government of Canada. The powers and structure of the federal government are set out in the Constitution of Canada. In modern Canadian use, the term "government" (or "federal government") refers broadly to the cabinet of the day and . DFEN will seek additional financial support from both the public and the private sectors to implement its business plan, which can be accessed at http://www.dotforce.org/teams/team4.html. Mr. Ellis, Mr. Sirois and an HP representative will be initial members of the organization's board of directors. About Accenture Accenture is the world's leading management consulting and technology services organization. Through its network of businesses approach - in which the company enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances, affiliated companies Affiliated Companies A situation that occurs when one company owns a minority interest (less than 50%) in another company. Also refers to companies that are related to each other in some way. Notes: An affiliated company is sometimes referred to as a subsidiary. and other capabilities - Accenture delivers innovations that help clients across all industries quickly realize their visions. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of US $11.44 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001. Its home page is http://www.accenture.com. About HP HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma As a matter of form or for the sake of form. Used to describe accounting, financial, and other statements or conclusions based upon assumed or anticipated facts. The phrase pro forma basis with the Compaq transaction of approximately US $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and has operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com About Telesystem Telesystem Ltd. (http://www.telesystem.ca) is an entrepreneurial private equity company. Through direct investments and focused venture funds, Telesystem brings together wireless communications infrastructure companies and an increasing number of enterprises active mainly in mobile Internet services and Web business solutions. About Open Economies Open Economies is a project of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion