Pragati Simlote

In a bid to support SMEs, and emerging and innovative companies in other markets through trade delegation to key markets, Nasscom is organizing a trade delegation to China from 17– 23 September 2006. It is also organizing its annual IT mission to Taiwan from 18-21 September 2006.

Nasscom vice president Sangeeta Gupta, in an interview with Pragati Simlote of CyberMedia News, shares her views on the need for these outward delegations and how it is a strategic step in the interest of SMEs and other emerging companies in India.

What kind of linkages are you looking at during the visit to China and Taiwan?

Through these outward delegations, Nasscom is looking at promoting emerging and innovative companies as well as SMEs in IT sector. The delegation to China, which comprises 12 emerging and innovative companies, will look at growing partnership opportunities between IT companies in the two countries. The delegation visit will coincide with the CeBIT Asia in Shanghai (17-20 September). The delegation will visit Shanghai, Beijing and Dalian, and activities will include a host of business seminars and networking events.

On the other hand, the delegation to Taiwan (Taipei and Hsin-Chu) will develop on Taiwan’s focus in communication industry and on sourcing strategies and look at partnerships with Indian companies for IP creation for the Telecom and mobile communication products market. There will also be a three-day seminar, which will include presentations by Nasscom, Taiwan industry leaders and Nasscom delegation members.

Both the countries are preferred hardware manufacturing destinations. Is the delegation looking in the area of cooperation in this field?

Nasscom conducted a survey a couple of years ago on the dynamics of the Chinese IT market and how India and China can work together. In the study, Nasscom suggested a strategy of collaboration and co-operation with China. Chinese industry, which has performed outstandingly in the domestic front, especially in the hardware sector and India, which has its expertise in software and service well established, can co-operate to work out a win-win situation for both (the countries) in the IT sector, by complementing on each others’ expertise.

The delegation to Taiwan has been organized to facilitate a knowledge sharing and networking platform, to help Indian and Taiwanese companies sharing technology and domain expertise and best practices in building partnerships in the area of IP creation. Since the industry in Taiwan is facing severe pressures of technology maturation and profits erosion, ICT companies in that country are focusing on enhancing the value-add of product offerings. Since embedded system design/software development plays pivotal role in product differentiation and is also the strength of India ICT companies, promoting cooperation and realizing the business opportunities based upon complementary competences and strategic offerings should derive both pie-expansion and win-win benefits for both Taiwanese and Indian ICT companies. This will be enabled through one-to-one business meetings, exploring partnerships and business opportunities in the area of embedded software for mobile handheld devices, new consumer products and home networking equipment.

What is the rationale behind such outward delegations? How would this help the interest of SMEs and other emerging companies in India?

These delegations are being organized to promote SMEs and other emerging companies in key markets like China and Taiwan, and facilitate technology partnerships and complementing opportunities amongst companies in these countries. The Chinese delegation will comprise emerging Indian ICT companies seeking alliances with overseas companies. While opportunities may arise for direct business from industry and government institutions in China, the focus for the delegation is on partnerships.

The Taiwanese delegation is also important for SME to SME collaborations, in software development, R&D and manpower augmentation.

Which are the major Indian companies that are part of this exercise?

The companies visiting China include Aspire Systems (India) Pvt Ltd, Compulink Systems Ltd, Eastern Software Systems Pvt Ltd, Hurix Systems Pvt. Ltd, IDS Infotech Ltd, Induslogic India Pvt Ltd, IBM India Ltd, Mobera Systems Pvt Ltd, Network Programs (India) Ltd, Newgen Software Technologies Ltd, PicoPeta Simputers Pvt Ltd and Symphony Services Corp (I) Pvt Ltd.

Companies visiting Taiwan include MindTree Consulting, Sasken Communication Technologies, Wipro Technologies, CalSoft Pvt. Ltd, CCL SoftLabs (A Div. of CCL Opto Electronics Pvt. Ltd.), Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd, Patni Computer Systems Ltd, Sarnoff Innovative Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Tech Mahindra, Yindusoft Technologies India (P) Ltd and Sarnoff Innovative Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

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