Senegal Ministry of Finance Selects Two IBM Mainframe Servers

New System to Transform Senegal's Import and Export Processes

DAKAR, Senegal, February 9, 2011 - The Customs Directorate of Senegal's Ministry of Finance has turned to
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and CFAO Technologies, an IBM Business Partner in West
Africa, to help modernize Senegal's import and export processes. The new
system, based on two IBM z10 mainframe computers, will give customs officers
and their partners on-line access to real-time information across all of the
country's 30 border checkpoints.

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

The new system will empower customs officers across Senegal to make
better decisions and will ensure the improved management of customs processes
such as import and export duty. For example, the new system will allow
customs officers to check to see if the correct duty has been paid on
shipments of goods coming into Senegal.

"Senegal's import and export business plays a key role in the economy of
the country," said Simon Pierre Thiaw, CIO of the Customs Directorate,
Senegal Ministry Finance. "By implementing some of the most advanced and
powerful IT systems available, we are able to transform our customs processes
and ensure that the work we do is performed as accurately and efficiently as
possible. While we considered alternative offerings from other vendors, we
were convinced by the price/performance ratio of the IBM system."

The Senegal Ministry of Finance joins a growing number of organizations
and companies in growth markets that are deploying IBM mainframe such as the
First National Bank of Namibia, Comepay in Russia, Kazakh Rail, HeiTech Padu
in Malaysia, the China Internet Network Information Center, Korea's BC Card,
Korea's Dongbu Insurance.

The Ministry's previous IT system was limited to the Port of Dakar and
Dakar Airport. With the new system, the Ministry will be able to bring
on-line all of its import and export processes from across the country as
well as digitize its payroll and HR processes.

The new mainframe solution will enable the Ministry to increase the
performance of its systems by 70%, reduce power consumption by 20% and cut
operating costs by 30%. With advanced recovery capabilities, the new system
will also help the Ministry to safeguard and recover critical information and
reduce possible downtime in the case of a systems failure.

"IBM is committed to working with companies and governments across Africa
to transform the way they work and do things smarter," said Taiwo Otiti,
Country General Manager for IBM West Africa. "This agreement with the Senegal
Ministry of Finance is a great example of how technology can be applied to
modernize government systems and support economic growth."

"The new system at the Senegal Ministry of Finance is one of the most
powerful in the West African region and will provide the Ministry of Finance
and its officers with real-time information to support timely and accurate
decision making," said Jean-Noel Le Foll, General Manager of CFAO
Technologies in Senegal.

The solution is based on two z10 mainframes running z/OS and linked in a
high availability sysplex situated in a data center in Dakar. Software will
include IBM WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli System Automation and will also feature
IBM DS8000 Storage Servers with permanent replication. The system is expected
to be up and running by the end of February.

About IBM

For more information about IBM please visit: www.ibm.com

About CFAO Group

For more information about CFAO Group please visit:
www.cfaogroup.com

    Contacts
    Jonathan Batty
    IBM Growth Markets Unit
    Jonathan.Batty@pl.ibm.com
    +48-69393-5403

    Ron Favali
    IBM Communications
    favali@us.ibm.com
    +1-813-356-4010

Jonathan Batty, IBM Growth Markets Unit, +48-69393-5403, Jonathan.Batty at pl.ibm.com; or Ron Favali, IBM Communications, +1-813-356-4010, favali at us.ibm.com