Software law – El Universal (Venezuela)

  DAVID D’LIMA UZCÁTEGUI
  | UNIVERSAL
 

Thursday June 4, 2015 12:00 AM

In times of crisis sharpens the intellect, therefore, in my humble position of professor and management consultant and technology, I propose some ideas for the development of software industry in the country to help to revive the economy. With this alone I intend to start a debate on the subject. The country has intellectual whose participation would realize a viable and consensual proposal.

There are objective conditions that favor the creation of a legal framework and a strategic platform to promote this productive sector. Venezuela has strengths and can seize the opportunities that are presented as a result of the crisis it faces.

The reasons for promoting the software are various. Universities are trained to increase and improve their supply of engineers and computer technicians. The government and the private sector require the development of new and better software products to increase their efficiency and become more competitive. The devaluation of the bolivar makes labor costs are lower than in other countries. Investment to create a job, compared with other technologies, is relatively low. Our country still retains a high level of education and training, with a staff of experienced teachers in computer.

I propose to create a software law that goes hand of a ten-year strategic plan. The law makes sense in the context of a plan, which should be as open and discussed possible with the greatest possible number of actors. Free ideological ties. The idea is to become a power in software development, capable of generating, within ten years, at least one billion dollars a year in exports.

The law should consider software production as an activity assimilable productive transformation to an industrial activity, the effects of the perception of tax, credit and benefits of any kind. Consider not only the production of software but also associated services, such as consulting for the implementation of systems and related training. Computer finance projects and quality certification of software companies.

This law should not be confused with Infogobierno Act. It is a law of industrial promotion. Should not only support free software, but also the owner. The main mechanism to generate foreign exchange in this industry is precisely the sale of licenses. It is not for changing the commercial behavior of this industry in the world. This is generating foreign exchange and high-paying jobs, calling not only domestic companies, but transnational, in partnership with them to leverage their markets in which the complementary services of our companies can be part of its industrial supply. In this regard, the Act should be relaxed Infogobierno. A massive computer training program to expand the supply of university places and provide well-paid work is required. Let us open the debate!

daviduzcateguid@gmail.com