Mr Dahabshiil remittance inter-connectivity before a Telecom one
London Feb 10,2013(SDN)-The head of world’s largest remittance company Abdirashid Duale gave an speech at Oxford University on the need for interconnectivity among Telecoms Company’s in the Somali Territories.
Mr Duale’s speech revolved around the history of the sector and the need for government regulation to get this happen.
Mr Abdiasis Duale is the current CEO of Dahabshiil Group of Companys which recently acquired the Mobile and Internet Company Somtel and has been trying to make headway into the sector.
Hare is an excerpt of Mr Duale’s speech in which he strongly praised the advance made by the Entrepreneurs in this sector and at the same time advocated for interconnectivity.
“While important steps have been taken there is still much to do to tie the sector together for the benefit of consumers.”
“The wider rewards are there for the taking. There are more than two million mobile subscriptions in the Somali territories and ordinary people are now enjoying the advantages of being connected with each other and with the outside world.”
“The spread of telecoms has been hugely empowering: enabling businesspeople, investors and aid workers to do more with existing resources. From traders checking market prices to doctors giving remote consultation, the penetration of mobile and Internet services has had an extremely positive impact on Somali life.”
“It is this entrepreneurial flair that has sustained the Somali people through many challenges.
“Good governance is needed for us to reach the next phase of economic maturity, and the need for agreement on mobile networks is a clear example of where regulation and regulators have a role to play. But in the interests of retaining that innovative, pioneering spirit it is vital that we refrain from over regulation.
“It is my hope that as the region continues to stabilise, the way will be open for a policy environment that complements rather than stifles business growth, and harnesses it for the benefit of ordinary Somalis.”
The Speech had points that deserve praise,but it also came across as self serving.
For example Mr Duale’s main business Dahabshiil is build on innovation and investment which took years to get it where it is today.
i And f we follow the logic of Mr Duale’s legislative logic,smaller companys could utilize Dahabshiil’s Innovative,investment and presence in the market. Just the same way Somtel is trying it’s best to muscle in on the action.
Clients of other and much smaller Hawal’s could utilize the massive Dahabshil network by pick up money sent from a smaller Hawala,same way banking business is conducted around the world.
Now this logic can only work where Countries have gone through years of government development on bussiness sectors such as Telecommunications and are latter privatised.
Or where Companys have Patented products for number of years to make back money invested in a product or a service,then to privetise letter.
But Businesses in the Somali regions of East Africa and beyond come about differently,they are thought,invested and implimented by Indivitual(s). Such is the case on how Dahabshiil has came about,self made.
So to try to clean the slate legislatively is to rob someone or group their Ideas and livelyhood period. and Dahabshiil should be the last person to entertain sucha caless idea.
SDN-London
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