Pakistan
Government support/laws: Good. Government has invested $US16 million in various projects aimed at improving infrastructure, HR development and integrating IT in the public sector. Tax exemption for software companies until 2018.
Quality initiatives: 539 ISO 9000 certifications. Currently 6 per cent of the software companies have either ISO 9000 or CMM certifications, with indications that that will increase.
Major providers: CresSoft (www.cressoft.com).
Major customers: Aspen Technology, AT&T, Schlumberger, World Bank.
Cities/Centres of outsourcing: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore.
National IT organisation: Pakistan Software Export Board (www.pseb.org.pk).
Size of industry: More than $US120 million; 700 companies employ 15,000 professionals.
Total labour force: 40 million.
Areas of expertise: Application development, application maintenance, packaged software implementation.
Philippines
Government support/laws: Good. Government incentives include three- to six-year income tax breaks, exemptions from all government fees, licences, dues, export taxes, etc.
Quality initiatives: Limited CMM certification; 961 ISO 9000 certifications. The Philippine government is setting up a program to offer incentives for certification.
Major providers: Computer Engineering Corporation (www.cecph.com), Headstrong (www.headstrong.com), Philippine IT Offshore Network consortium, (www.piton-global.com), Soluziona Philippines (www.soluziona.com), SVI Philippines (www.svi.com.ph).
Major customers: FedEx, Northwest Airlines, Walt Disney.
Cities/Centres of outsourcing: Cebu City, Makati City, Manila, Pasig City.
National IT organisation: Information Technology Association of the Philippines (www.itaphil.org).
Size of industry: $US1 billion; more than 1000 companies employ 290,000 professionals.
Total labour force: 32 million.
Areas of expertise: Application development, application maintenance, call centres, business continuity and disaster recovery, e-business.
Singapore
Government support/laws: Stable, business-friendly government offers big tax incentives.
Quality initiatives: 3,513 ISO 9000 certifications.
Major providers: Business Technovise Inter'l (www.biztech-i.com), Jayasoft Solutions (www.jayasoft.com.sg), NCS Singapore (www.ncs.com.sg).
Major customers: Solectron, Sun Microsystems.
Cities/Centres of outsourcing: SingaporeNational IT organisation: Singapore IT Federation (www.sitf.org.sg).
Size of industry: NA.
Total labour force: 2.2 million.
Areas of expertise: Application development, application maintenance, systems integration.
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