CASE STUDIES FROM AFRICA

software; system integration; computer support services; specification engineering; application
design, testing, and maintenance; and content management.
In 2012, a quarter of ARC’s domestically generated income came from the sale of services to the
financial sector. About a fifth of its total income in 2012 came from exports. Sub-Saharan Africa
accounted for approximately 75% of these exports, with Europe and Asia together representing the
other 25%. The services sold by ARC are largely delivered electronically—via email and the
Internet. This mode of supply accounted for approximately 90% of its export earnings. The presence
of a subsidiary in Mali and the temporary movement of its staff to supply services abroad
represented 10% of its export earnings.
ARC faces several competitors in the domestic market and saw a decline in its customer base in
2012. The company employed 30 permanent professionals in 2012. The most senior ARC manager
has 20 years’ experience in ITS in Senegal and 3 years abroad. He has an engineering degree
obtained abroad.
FINETECH
FINETECH is a limited liability company (LLC) with 88% of its capital owned and controlled by
Senegalese partners. It has only one facility in Senegal and started its activities in 2009. FINETECH
currently provides software development and implementation services; data processing and
database services; integration of enterprise applications; enterprise security; application software;
system integration; computer support services; specification engineering; application design,
testing, and maintenance; and content management. FINETECH also conducts back-office activities
in the form of financial processing (data and financial information processing and management),
but this represents less than 1% of its income.
In 2012, three quarters of FINETECH’s domestically generated income came from the sale of
services to the financial sector, with the public sector accounting for the remaining quarter.
FINETECH’s activities, however, are primarily export based: 75% of its revenues were derived from
sales abroad; 90% of these customers are based in West and Central Africa. Morocco, Tunisia, and
France accounted for 10% of its export markets. Export earnings from cross-border supply
accounted for only 20%, while 80% was generated by the temporary movement of its staff to supply
services abroad.
FINETECH faces several competitors in the domestic market. In 2012 it employed 20 permanent
professionals. The most senior executive at FINETECH has 16 years’ experience in ITS in Senegal,
with a computer science degree obtained in Dakar.
2SI
2SI is an LLC with 100% of its capital owned and controlled by Senegalese partners. It began
operations in 2001 and has two facilities in Senegal. 2SI currently provides development and
implementation of software; data processing and database services; web services; hosting of web
and application service providers; integration of business applications; application software;
systems integration; ICT support services; specification engineering; application design, testing, and
maintenance; and content management.
In 2012, 2SI had three main groups of customers: multinational companies operating in Senegal
(including banks), the government, and public enterprises. Approximately 60% of 2SI’s earnings are
generated through exports, with the main markets being a dozen West African countries.
172