Staying connected with The Local Channel

In today's world, it has become increasingly important to stay connected. Ready, round-the-clock access to information has become vital, whether people are in London or in remote provinces in China.

UK-based technology company The Local Channel strengthens the connection between local communities and local government officials by providing an online infrastructure that allows them to build their own websites.

In the UK, The Local Channel works with 23 percent of local parishes and helps them connect regularly with their constituents. Meanwhile, the parish takes charge of providing the content of the website.

The Local Channel has also taken its product abroad, with promising results. In Slovakia, it has linked 25 percent of municipal councils in the country through their system and has deployed a pilot site in Russia.

The company is now looking toward China, where it is targeting 10 provinces and enlisted a local partner to ensure a successful venture.

"The principal reason behind the Chinese operations revolves around supporting the new socialist countryside program. We will initially be looking to connect the local village councils to their constituents," says CEO Patrick Abrahams.

Its partner, a local pharmaceutical company, sees The Local Channel's efforts as an opportunity to connect rural youth with a distribution mechanism for pharmaceutical and healthcare needs. The launch is scheduled for the summer of 2007 in Heilongjiang Province.

"When we build a system, we don't build it for 10 locations and then stop. We build a system for an entire province, allowing any community in the region to adopt the system at any time," comments Abrahams.

They will also be working with the Chinese government to provide websites and, where necessary, training for villagers who require improved computer skills to work with the product.

Ease of use gives The Local Channel its edge. By providing a sophisticated back end system with an easy to use user facing front end, it allows consumers to focus on content rather than on web design and other more technical matters.

Also, The Local Channel provides interactive support lines and on the ground community participation, making the venture a true 21st century manifestation of grass roots organization.

www.thelocalchannel.co.uk

(China Daily 08/28/2007 page18)