The Hindu Business Line : Over 300 cos may take part in BangaloreIT.in

The Karnataka IT Secretary, Mr M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda (4th from left), exchanging files with Mr Tarun Hukku of Microland (left), and Mr Raghavendra Rao of HR India (2nd from left), after signing the MoUs for organising a conference on HR in IT at the forthcoming BangaloreIT.in 2005 in Bangalore on Wednesday. — V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore , Sept 28

OVER 300 companies are expected to participate in BangaloreIT.in 2005, the technology event that begins on October 26, according to the officials of the Karnataka Government and the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).

"While 115 international IT firms and 60 domestic firms have already confirmed their participation in BangaloreIT.in 2005, we are hopeful that more than 300 companies would participate in the event," said Mr J. Parthasarathy, Additional Director, STPI, Bangalore, said here today.

About 17 countries including Australia, UK, France, Mexico, Spain, the US, and Belgium, among others, and 19 States have already confirmed their participation in the trade show.

"We expect over 20 countries and 22 States to participate in this year's event," Mr Parthasarathy added.

The Karnataka IT Secretary, Mr M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda, said that delegations from France and Mexico would be organising a seminar on exploring IT opportunities.

BangaloreIT.in was facing uncertainty till last week as IT firms here had threatened to boycott it, blaming the Government for its indifference towards improving infrastructure in the city.

However, following a meeting between the Chief Minister, Mr N. Dharam Singh, and the industry representatives, the firms have agreed to log in. The State Government has promised to improve infrastructure in a time-bound manner.

This year the event will see the launch of the Indian chapter of Information Technology Systems Management (ITSM), the UK-headquartered non-profit society.

ITSM India would focus on creating knowledge base and best practices on IT systems, said Mr Sadagopan, Director of IIIT-B.

Human resources in IT industry will also be a focus area of this year's event. A one-day conference on HR in IT is being organised as part of BangaloreIT.in, which will focus on emerging issues on managing people, recruitment, building sustainable value systems, and best practices among others, said Mr Raghavendra Rao of HR India.

Special emphasis would be made in this edition to promote IT in tier II cities such as Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Nagpur, Vijayawada, and Coimbatore, among others, Mr Gowda said.

The India Semiconductor Association would hold a conference on "Accelerating technology incubation in the semiconductor space".

Bangalore retains allure

DESPITE its compounding infrastructure woes, Bangalore has attracted investments of Rs 1,520 crore from 97 new IT firms since April 1 this year till date. This represents a 17-per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.

Some 57 of the 97 new firms that have set up shop in Bangalore this year are 100 per cent foreign equity owned and have brought in investments to the tune of Rs 920 crore, said Mr B.V. Naidu, Director, STPI.

In the corresponding previous period, about 55 foreign equity firms had set up operations bringing in Rs 750 crore, he added.

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