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<p class=MsoNormal>Dear everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I have no intention to get involved in a debate that doesn't
concern me, but I just wanted to add something about whether or not knowledge should
be shared in the business world, and in the business world of stoves especially.
Since as a future (hopefully) company manager, I am facing this question already.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Along with my other activities, I am working with NANSU (the
Beninese Jiko) producers to help them maximise production. It was hard to gain
their trust. In Benin, the climate for business is not very good, many businesses
do not survive, often because of the administrative burdens, corruption, unreliable
employees or partners, etc. They were reluctant to welcome foreigners at first,
and now they are still cautious, but they really needed advice in management
and planning. There is a huge demand of NANSU, not only from Benin, but from
neighbour countries. The situation is almost unbelievable, they are basically
harassed by customers, but due to poor organisation, their production level is
very low. Rather than seeking help, they isolated themselves. Given the market,
I always told them they should be less afraid of partners and competitors, and
more about their capacities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The potential market for efficient stoves is enormous. It's
like in rural electrification, to me, we can barely talk about competition. Even
with two other concurrent factories of NANSU, in my opinion, the current
producers wouldn't run out of customers, they wouldn't be at risk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>As for me, since I do not have the technical knowledge, and
I don't want to spend time and money reinventing the wheel, I am looking for an
open source stove. As I will consider myself a user, I am planning to redistribute
and share knowledge, even if I want to make profit. And I hope my competitors
will do great. The goal is still to spread a maximum of (quality) stoves. I
think it is still true for a stove inventor. Even if it is normal and fair to
have a patented technology, and to get credit for it, the inventor can and even
should share it without restraints to other organisations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Where I can distinguish from my competitors, it is not in
the technology, it is in the cheaper and better materials, in the finishing
touches, in the packaging, in the distribution system, in the promotional offers,
etc. So it can level up, not level down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>As for now I think what we need most is information sharing and
stoves spreading, a very few people around the world are using now efficient
stoves, the market is far from being saturated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Cheers,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Xavier Brandao<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>(+229) 66 37 89 59<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>xvr.brandao@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>skype : x.brandao<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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