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Uzbekistan is becoming acquainted with FOSS experience of Asia-Pacific countries
During July 18-26, 2006, ICTP (“Assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT for development policy”) project organized a study tour of government officials on FOSS (Free/Open Source Software) experience in Asia-Pacific countries (Thailand and Malaysia) as part of a continued commitment to the promotion of FOSS in Uzbekistan including the recently published Research paper on “Prospective use of free and open source software for development of Uzbekistan”.
Source: http://en.ictp.uz/content/view/67/3/
The overall objective of the study tour was to learn from FOSS experience of Asia-Pacific countries so to apply them in future activities in Uzbekistan. The study tour was organized in close cooperation with The International Open Source Network (IOSN) based in Bangkok, Thailand. The IOSN is tasked specifically to facilitate and network FOSS advocates and human resources in the region. The vision is that developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region can achieve rapid and sustained economic and social development by using affordable yet effective FOSS ICT solutions to bridge the digital divide.
During the study tour the delegation from Uzbekistan comprised of representatives of Communication and Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzACI), “UzInfoCom” Computerization and Information Technology Development Center and ICTP project visited key organizations and institutions involved in FOSS development, adoption and dissemination of FOSS solutions in the region. Within the framework of the study tour special attention was paid to two main issues: FOSS national strategies and results of case studies. Discussion topics included issues related to FOSS policies, public knowledge, research data, solutions, and trends. The focus was also made on identifying strengths and weaknesses of open source initiatives. In addition to issues related to introduction of open source solutions, the issues of working out of “open standards” for information systems, data storage and systems interaction were also discussed.
- FOSS national strategies, government regulations towards the FOSS development were examined;
- case studies of FOSS deployment in government, education, and SME sectors were studied in order to learn from their successes and failures and properly plan the FOSS pilot initiatives in Uzbekistan;
- ideas for further development of FOSS Resource Center in Uzbekistan were collected with the purpose to create a centralized repository of knowledge that will increase the awareness and adoption of open source technology in Uzbekistan;
- network of contacts with people working in this area in Asia-Pacific region was established and potential areas of further cooperation in the field were explored;
- potential international contributors for National Summit on ICT to be held in September in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, were identified and invited.
During the study tour the delegation met a large number of experts and professionals working in open source field representing the following key organizations, educational establishments and companies:
THAILAND
UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network (IOSN)
The International Open Source Network (IOSN) is a Center of Excellence for FOSS in the Asia-Pacific Region. It shapes its activities around Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) technologies and applications. The IOSN is tasked specifically to facilitate and network FOSS advocates and human resources in the region. The vision is that developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region can achieve rapid and sustained economic and social development by using affordable yet effective FOSS ICT solutions to bridge the digital divide.
A research and development organization in electronic, computing, telecommunication and information technologies for strengthening the sustainable economy and knowledge-based society. Promotes the development of e-government applications using open standards.
Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA)
SIPA is the government agency that was founded in the period of great changes of software technology. SIPA also promotes the use and development of Open Source applications. SIPA promotes the use of Open Source software to provide basic ICT studies to students and general people. SIPA also encourages SMEs to use Open Source applications in their initial period of adopting ICT for their operations. SIPA believes all of these measures will usher Thai people to join the knowledge-based society. Moreover, SIPA also promotes the use of Open Source software as developing tools for creating advanced applications.
The Asian Institute of Technology promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian-Pacific region through higher education, research and outreach. Established in Bangkok in 1959, AIT has become a leading regional postgraduate institution and is actively working with public and private sector partners throughout the region and with some of the top universities in the world. Provides courses in open source technologies.
MALAYSIA
Malaysian Administration Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU)
The Government of Malaysia has decided to encourage the use of Open Source Software(OSS) in the Malaysian Public Sector. The Malaysian Administration Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) of the Prime Minister Department is given the responsibility to implement this OSS Initiative.
Open Source Competency Centre (OSCC)
Open Source Competency Centre (OSCC) is a reference centre between public sector user community and a Smart Partnership developer community. It operates as a facilitator to ease OSS implementation in the public sector and serves as as the public sector reference point on OSS which can be utilized by the public sector, education institutions and the industry at large.
Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)
The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC Malaysia) is Malaysia’s most exciting initiative for the global information and communication technology (ICT) industry. Conceptualized in 1996, the MSC Malaysia has since grown into a thriving dynamic ICT hub, hosting more than 900 multinationals, foreign-owned and home-grown Malaysian companies focused on multimedia and communications products, solutions, services and; research and development.
Gateway to the MSC Malaysia is the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), a high-powered ‘one-stop agency’, focusing on ensuring the success of the MSC Malaysia and the companies operating in it.
Byte Craft company
Byte Craft Sdn Bhd is a leading consulting and IT services company, providing a whole spectrum of solutions customized for a range of technologies.
QubeConnect company
Development & commercialization of a suite of Internet Protocol (IP) telephony communication & network solutions.Provision of consultancy, implementation, training, maintenance and technical support services.
Open University Malaysia (OUM)
OUM’s strengths span a wide range of disciplines, from IT and Engineering to the Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Science. Employing the latest approaches in the teaching-learning process, it offers academic programmes that cater to the demands of industry and the marketplace in general.
