Information Technology Development

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The objective of the Information Technology (IT) Industry Development Project is to assist the Government of Mexico to implement an alternative strategy for Development Program for the Software Industry (PROSOFT) to foster the creation of jobs in Mexican IT Companies by improving their competitiveness and efficiency through access to: (a) a larger supply of trained personnel; (b) technologies, quality standards, and global marketing networks of multinational corporations; and (c) private debt finance. There are seven components to the project. The first component of the project is human skills development. This component will help the IT/ IT enabled services (ITES) industry to ramp up and compete globally by increasing the quantity and the quality of skilled manpower. The second component of the project is strengthening of IT clusters and selected state agencies. This component will help existing IT Clusters and associations in promising states having high potential in the IT/ITES sector. The third component of the project is financing of the IT industry. This component will finance technical assistance to create and implement an accreditation program to improve IT companies' access to finance. The fourth component of the project is supporting infrastructure. This component will finance: (a) the design and bid specifications preparation; and (b) the public sector investment in public private partnerships (PPPs) to build and operate the IT Parks. The fifth component of the project is outsourcing of government services. This component will finance the execution of a handful of sub-projects at the federal, state and municipal levels using innovative outsourcing and PPP approaches. It will also support the creation of an Integration Competency Center and the setting up of cost effective Technology Escrow arrangements to improve the prospects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in securing business within and outside of the government. The six component of the project is strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework and institutions. This component will include: (i) technical assistance to draft changes and/or improvements to the legal and regulatory framework; (ii) awareness raising campaigns for specific improvements of sector laws and regulations such as the "Sellos de Confianza" program; (iii) tailor-made professional training for legislators, judges, public servants, law enforcement officers, and technical experts in trials; (iv) creation of a center for disputes settlement within the Mexican Software Consortium; and (v) the creation of a local Masters program in IT Law, training professors of Law on IT issues, regulations and enforcement best practices. The seventh component of the project is PROSOFT strengthening and project management. This component will include: (i) the creation of an International Consultative Commission in PROSOFT; and (ii) support to the Secretaria de Economia (SE) to manage, implement, monitor and evaluate the results of the project.