Proexport, Sena launch CMMI certification program

Colombia's export promotion agency Proexport and national education service Sena have launched a program to help local IT firms attain capability maturity model integration (CMMi) certification, according to information published on the Proexport website. The certification will allow software companies to optimize software design processes and guarantee quality. They should also be better prepared to reduce mistakes and manage risks, generating more satisfaction among their clients. Proexport's program will begin by educating at least 330 local companies about the importance of the CMMi model and testing their general knowledge. The program covers the training of five international consultants who will replicate consultancy services in CMMi implementation for Colombian companies at accessible prices. Proexport and Sena also plan to select a pilot group of five software export companies for immediate training in CMMi standards. "This certification allows companies to become more competitive, reaching more and better clients overseas," Proexport president Luis Guillermo Plata said in the report. The Colombian software developers' association Fedesoft aims to grow exports to US$2.5bn within five years. For 2004, results should show that software exports reached US$600mn, up 140% compared to 2003. The main destinations for Colombian software exports include Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and Panama.