TUNISIA ICT COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT Quarterly Report October - December 2012

The project's primary objective is to increase the competitiveness of Tunisia's ICT sector, promote entrepreneurship, and develop the country's ICT workforce. Component 1 of the project focuses on increasing and developing ICT and ICT-enabled entrepreneurship. This component involves assessing comparative and competitive advantage in the ICT sector, selecting high-potential ICT market segments, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with employment and export potential. Additionally, the component aims to stimulate the provision of sustainable financing for high-potential ICT and ICT-enabled companies and SMEs. Component 2 of the project focuses on growing and developing Tunisia's ICT workforce. This component involves identifying companies to partner with on training, internships, hiring, and capacity building, as well as building public-sector partnerships. The component also includes designing and implementing training programs, mapping labor demand and supply in the ICT sector, assessing and recommending improvements to ICT curriculum, and developing job-matching programs. Component 3 of the project focuses on developing ICT policy and regulatory reform. This component involves developing an ICT technical support and outreach framework, defining an enabling environment reform agenda, proposing enabling environment reforms, commenting on draft revisions to the Investment Code, and further developing e-governance and e-commerce. The component also includes establishing an ICT Task Force, amending the Telecommunications Code in accordance with international best practice, and developing ICT-relevant financial sector reforms. During the October-December 2012 quarter, the project made significant progress in all three components. In Component 1, the project team assessed comparative and competitive advantage in the ICT sector and selected high-potential ICT market segments. In Component 2, the project team identified companies to partner with on training and internships and designed and implemented training programs. In Component 3, the project team developed an ICT technical support and outreach framework and proposed enabling environment reforms. The project team encountered several operational challenges during the quarter, including difficulties in accessing certain government agencies and delays in obtaining necessary approvals. However, the team proposed several solutions to address these challenges, including establishing a project office in Tunis and increasing communication with government agencies. For the next quarter, the project team plans to continue implementing the activities outlined in the project's work plan. In Component 1, the team will support SMEs with employment and export potential and stimulate the provision of sustainable financing for high-potential ICT and ICT-enabled companies and SMEs. In Component 2, the team will continue to design and implement training programs and develop job-matching programs. In Component 3, the team will further develop e-governance and e-commerce and establish an ICT Task Force. The project team consists of several advisors and specialists, including Firas BenAchour, ICT Sector Advisor; Kelly Cameron, Telecommunications Code Reform Advisor; Jim Defay, Senior Financial Advisor; Neil MacKinnon, Security Advisor; Deborah Porte, Business Enabling Environment Advisor; Bernadette Wakim, Senior ICT Workforce Development Advisor; and others. The team will continue to work together to achieve the project's objectives and make significant progress in enhancing Tunisia's ICT sector.