CIO PAKISTAN – CEO ISSUE
ASHAR H. ZAIDI – Q&A
Intel is a company that is constantly experimenting and evolving while fuelling an industry that never rests. Inspiring the partners to develop innovative products and services, and drive industry standards with a view to collectively deliver better solutions and help businesses and communities derive greater benefits from new innovations.
For over thirteen years, Intel Pakistan Corporation has played a pivotal role in facilitating growth of the IT industry of Pakistan; from spreading IT awareness within the country to strengthening the local market. The Intel team constantly endeavours to support Pakistan’s industry by providing leading edge technology products to the local market as soon as they become available internationally.
To date, Intel has hosted a multitude of interactive workshops, seminars, exhibitions and special events in Pakistan, which reflect its mission to promote IT awareness across the nation. Intel has also played a prominent role in establishing a solid educational foundation within Pakistan by providing technical assistance and consultancy services to tertiary and non-tertiary institutes. Intel Pakistan Corporation also works closely with the Small and Medium Business Segment of the country and plays an advisory role to SMBs to support their growth via the effective utilization of technology.
It is the Intel team’s vision to find and drive the next step ahead – in technology, education, culture, corporate social responsibility, manufacturing and businesses. We believe in encouraging our customers, partners, consumers as well as all local businesses to join us as we continue to take some exciting leaps forward. For us, it is not just about making technology faster, smarter and cheaper – but in fact more about using that technology to make life better, richer and more convenient for everyone it touches.
So Intel Pakistan is the undisputed leader in the local market – what does it take to
stay there in front?
The Intel team constantly endeavours to support Pakistan’s industry by providing leading edge technology products to the local market as soon as they become available internationally. The launch of all new Intel 2010 Core Processor Family this year is one such example which speaks of Intel’s commitment to technological development in Pakistan.
We continue to play the role of a catalyst and bring local players on a single platform and help them gain recognition on a national level, which is where our Intel Channel Conference comes in. This, twice a year event, is a face-to-face forum and training program for channel members in Pakistan. Intel® Channel Conference provides a central forum to launch products and programs, promote key Intel initiatives, and equip channel customers with the tools they need to embrace and deliver new and emerging technologies.
It takes solid vision and the passion to find and drive the next step ahead – in technology, education and culture, corporate social responsibility, manufacturing and businesses. And that’s how we plan to remain the undisputed leaders in the local market for time to come.
You’ve always been very passionate about developing the domestic market, but there have been a number of brands/companies that have either closed shop, or converted to other avenues. What does it take to bump up the local hardware industry so it can remain sustainable?
The Government of Pakistan plays a major role in bumping up the local hardware industry. Pakistan’s geo-strategic location accentuates the significance of the country’s large market size of IT vendors. Strong growth prospects for the IT industry have also encouraged PC vendors to increase investment in channels and local production. Presence of local market leaders like Viper and Raffles, to name a few, are promising to sustain the local hardware industry.
IT service vendors have continued to strengthen their infrastructure and service offerings in Pakistan. Moreover, despite the global recession the demand for laptops is expected to be the
strongest growth area, while desktops remain the popular choice for businesses. With greater internet speed, growing broadband penetration should be a key driver of PC sales across consumer and business segments. This will serve to further strengthen the industry in the coming years.
What’s been your biggest set of challenges and how have you dealt with them?
The Government of Pakistan has always facilitated Intel in its various initiatives to promote technology penetration and education.
Pakistan is an emerging market, and for us the challenges are actually opportunities. We have huge untapped potential and are determined to support sustainable growth to bridge this gap. For example, there is still a large segment of the population that does not have access to technology. Bearing this in mind, I feel there is immense potential for Pakistan to progress in these areas.
Despite the fact that Intel Pakistan has grown in the number of projects and community Outreach and uplifting programs it has achieved, what would you suggest be the plan of action for PC penetration to also experience some growth?
Intel Corporation believes in bridging the digital divide that is usually present in developing countries. Under the Intel World Ahead Program, Intel has donated PCs and labs, reaching a target of 150 across the nation. As far as plan of action for PC penetration is concerned, Intel has introduced the ‘Atom processor’ for netbooks at entry level that is affordable and is expected to increase the penetration of PCs in the lower SECs.
You’ve always maintained that there is a great deal of potential in the local market.
Could you quantify?
The IT industry in Pakistan has undergone a dramatic change in the recent years led by the government with the aim of making it a major player in the industry, with perhaps every global IT company in the world having presence in Pakistan is seeing growth. The PC penetration and Internet Penetration still has great room for going up. The IT industry is probably the most exciting and dynamic sector in the country today.
The computer industry is characterized by 75,000 professionals, with major ongoing IT projects within the government and the private sectors to the tune of hundreds of millions of US dollars. Many world-class software and hardware product and services companies entering the Pakistan market bear testimony to the vibrancy of the IT and IT enabled services in Pakistan. Technology today, has entered every aspect of industrial and economic activity within the country.
With such a boost in technology products and power embedded right into the hardware, what does the local market (including PC penetration and adoption) look like to you in the next 3 years?
Technology is like a wonder drug. Everyday there are new innovations and we see an exponential growth over the next three years.
Intel Pakistan has grown manifolds strength to strength over the past 13 years and we hope to continue this growth, stay pioneers of technology and fuel growth of the local IT industry. Our aim is to help bridge the digital divide through various initiatives and continue to help the local industry develop.
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