Azerbaijan, Baku, April 29 / Trend H.Valiyev /
Acompetitive environment for software developers can only have a positive impact on the formation of the market and consequently the appearance of demand for the final product, the president of the Caspian Investment Centre Elshan Musayev told Trend.
According to him, there is an absence in the market of mobile technologies in Azerbaijan, while a need to create competitive environment in the market is obvious.
"Clearly, there are some techniques that may be obtained from abroad. Technology transfer and its adaptation are required for this. The question is why not to create them ourselves? Azerbaijan is ready for it.
"There are many programmes that may be used appropriately. If there are really good ideas for the implementation of start-up projects and the introduction of technology, they will inevitably get their customers. The main objective is to present these at the appropriate level," Musayev said.
A good example, he said, is an application that allows you to define the locations of ATMs. This project has attracted interest from many banks.
The most important component in the development of the start-up of the project which according to experts, is that it has to have a customer in advance in order not to invest funds in a useless project, as it is impossible to get the customer to buy what it is unnecessary.
"The state now provides soft loans for the establishment of start-up projects. Talking about the bank lending is not possible because the interest rate which is currently set by banks is practically disadvantageous for this purpose," he said.
According to Musaev, prior to the development of the draft, it is necessary to define its audience.
"This may be a category of people with minimum and maximum income. Another equally important issue is the level of interest it might acquire. Today, investors in Azerbaijan follow a stereotype of those unwilling to benefit from students' ideas for building a business. Although saying that, services might be developed that would be beneficial both for the businessmen and the young developers," Musayes said.
"The issue of full funding for the project is also acute. The investor is not ready for it. I think the project should be developed by a team. Having a team is already a 20 per cent guarantor for the project. By ensuring the minimum of 20 per cent of its funding from one's own resources, the search for the remaining percentage of the amount would not require too much effort. Again, it is important that an idea or a project finds its customer in advance," Musayev said.
Also, another stereotype followed by developers according Musaev, is the fear to disclose the idea, as is it may be 'grabbed' or even stolen by others.
"I think if the idea is likely to be stolen at a glance, it does not cost a penny. The idea should incorporate technology and most importantly demand. If someone is trying to recreate it, then it may be useful in the sense that will create a competitive environment. Competitors should exist in either case and if not, that person needs to be found," the expert said.
Unfortunately, according to Musayev, there are also times when developers ask for money for the project and are unable to substantiate the purpose of their request. In 99 per cent of these cases, the money can be spent without any benefit.