Bangalore IT.biz logs into a dull start

Bangalore IT.biz logs into a dull start
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The economic crisis not withstanding, Karnataka's premier show, 'Bangalore IT.biz 2008' took off to a rather dull but colourful start at the Palace Grounds here on Thursday.

Some of the participants even went to the extent of actually terming the show a damp squid, in the absence of any new major policy initiatives and industry leaders.

Inaugurating the event, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said, the State government understands the importance of infrastructure and the importance of connectivity by road, rail and airport for the growth of IT.
“We have earmarked over Rs 1800 crores over a period of three years, for various development works. Airports are being upgraded at Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore, while new airports are planned at Mysore, Shimoga and Gulbarga. There are tremendous opportunities for growth of IT in tier-two cities of the State” he said.

Expected to fall
Yeddyurappa, quoting the Nasscom survey added that the growth in revenues from software exports and services is expected to fall to 24 percent this year, as against 29 percent during 2007-08, due to the global economic meltdown.

“Karnataka’s contribution alone amounts to 14.2 billion US dollars, that is about 35 percent of the country’s IT exports that registered revenues of 40.4 billion US dollars in 2007-08” he said.

The chief minister further said the State would like to see the estimated revenues of the Indian IT sector, touching 60 billion US dollars by 2009-10, in which Karnataka’s share would not be less than 20 billion US dollars.
In his address, Katta Subramanya Naidu, the minister for Excise, Information Technology and BWSSB said single window clearance for all IT and BT projects has been proposed to be established to further promote the sector.
“I am also in regular contact with the industry in a new e-mail initiative, ‘Communicate’ so as to get feedback from them” he detailed.

Mr Naidu added, the government also proposes to establish a ‘Electronic Hardware Technology Park’, near the Bengaluru International Airport, which is expected to generate one lakh jobs. Partner country for the event was represented by Gerardo Ruiz, the minister for Economy, Government of Mexico and the Ambassador of Mexico in India, Rogelio Granguillhome.