[ANSOL-geral] Fossfa warns Govts against Microsoft - ainda existe gente SÉRIA em África...

[Ricardo Jorge]

Open Source
http://www.tectonic.co.za/default.php?action=view&id=272
Fossfa warns Govts against Microsoft

Alastair Otter
Free Software and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (Fossfa) 
co-ordinator Bildad Kagai today issued a stongly-worded warning to African 
governments that are - or are planning to - enter into "deals" with the 
Microsoft Corporation saying they were jeopordising their local software 
industry as well as limiting the potential of ICT development in their 
countries.

Kagai, a founder of Fossfa, and an outspoken critic of proprietary software, 
said "Fossfa estimates Africa's ICTs industry to be worth more than $25 
billion and growing. It will be unfair to Africa if our leaders were to give 
away this industry to already rich corporations when local talent exists to 
service this industry in this
continent."

In a letter to open source advocates across the continent Kagai wrote:

"The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) is concerned
with the recent agreements and partnerships African Governments and their
organs have been signing with the Microsoft Corporation which in essence are
killing local software industry and inhibiting the potential of developing
local human capacity in the field of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs). FOSSFA compares the scenario being created similar to
the tea and coffee crisis where the producers in the developing world do not
get a decent return from the crops whilst the processors in the developed
world reap all the profits.

Most recently, Microsoft has signed agreements with the New Partnership for
African Development (NEPAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the tune of
thousands of millions of dollars which effectively confines these agencies
and the governments they represent from pursuing and practicing the freedom
of CHOICE especially from the local software producers who are currently
coming up in all pockets of Africa. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/Jan04/01-23WorldEconomicForumPR.asp

FOSSFA wishes to air this clarion call to African governments to be wary of
these unfair trade practices from big multinational corporations such as
Microsoft and emulate the Asian Tigers who realised the benefits of promoting
local products and local talent. FOSSFA estimates Africa's ICTs industry to
be worth more than 25 Billion Dollars and growing. It will be unfair to
Africa if our leaders were to give away this industry to already rich
corporations when local talent exists to service this industry in this
continent. That is the only way we can achieve economic empowerment and
sustainable development. Buy African. Build Africa. Visit our portal to see
software products produced in Africa. www.fossfa.org

-- 
With Kind Regards,

Bildad Kagai
CEO - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd.
Coordinator - Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)

February 18 2004 
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