IGF 2014

The development of local content and applications are key drivers to spur the development of the Internet economy. However, a closer look at content and apps production reveals that the majority of content is produced by a few leading economies. A very moderate level of content is produced IN emerging and developing economies FOR these economies. In addition, apart from some few successful applications and content platforms, the local content and applications market has not scaled up in emerging countries and is currently fragmented.

Existing studies in Asia and Latin America have shown that a barrier to a higher adoption of the Internet and Internet services and applications, especially among low-income groups, is often that these income groups do not perceive the need of an Internet connection because no appropriate content is available for them that would add value to their businesses or lives.

If we managed to develop and promote policies that would significantly enhance content production and distribution in emerging and developing countries at a large scale, we would not only foster economic growth and social development in these countries, but also diversify the Internet economy and make it truly global.

This workshop intends to identify innovative policies and programmes that truly foster the development of content and applications in emerging and developing economies and that promote a local content ecosystem in these countries. Entrepreneurs producing local content in emerging economies will connect remotely from different continents to integrate their views on needs of developers in these economies.

Agenda:

1.Opening remarks on the production and distribution of local content and applications by moderator Andrew Wyckoff

2.Interventions by
a.Minister Diego Molano Vega – Local content and apps development in Colombia
b.Helani Galpaya – LIRNEasia research on developping an app ecosystem in India and Sri Lanka

3.Invitation to entrepreneurs from emerging countries to report remotely about their experience

4.Interventions by
a.Patricia Senghor – Fostering content development in Africa through the FIRE program
b.Konstantinos Komaitis – ISOC’s work and partnerships for local content

5.Discussion