Zapopan to develop software center plan

August 30, 2004--The town of Zapopan in Mexico's Jalisco state is working with US consultancy Integrant to develop a strategic plan for a software development center, Zapopan's director of economic development Arturo Olvera said.

The firm will conduct a detailed technical and financial analysis for the project over a period of three months beginning in September, he said. Together with Zapopan officials, the consultancy will present the center's strategy to government representatives at the end of the year. Olvera plans to begin work on the center early in 2005.

Integrant is doing the first phase of the project for free and will be hired by Zapopan for future services after construction is begun.

"We want to build synergies and economies of scale among the companies in the center," Olvera said. The goal for the center is to develop software for export as well as to become an outsourcing location for foreign firms.

There are 22 Jalisco companies which have expressed interest in the program, Olvera said. While funding from private companies will finance the center's operations in the future, to date no money has been collected from interested parties.

"We have had discussions with the firms about technical resources and the overall plan for the center," Olvera said. "Companies will have to pay to be a part of the center, which will help us finance our operations."

After the presentation of the town's strategy, Olvera hopes to win government funding as well, but he could not estimate how much the town could expect until Integrant's analysis was complete.

No name has yet been chosen for the development center.