Kerala looks to China for ties in IT sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: The Kerala IT Department is looking at exploring opportunities to enhance Sino-Indian bilateral cooperation in the area of IT software and IT-enabled Services (ITeS).

A focused approach in a bid to realize its goals in China and bag a few deals of cooperation in China is being currently pursued by a delegation of IT department officials in China. The business mission to China coincides with the 2009 edition of the North East Asia Hi-tech Fair being held in Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning Province from 24-26 September, 2009.

The mission, a 7-member delegation led by Ajay Kumar, IT Secretary, will also visit Beijing, Dalian and Shenyang. The delegation has been formally invited by the Shenyang Municipal People's Government, said an IT department official.

As part of the mission, Mervin Alexander, CEO, Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, has signed a Cooperation MoU with the Zhou Fang, Director of the Zpark (Beijing Zhongguancun Software Park Company Ltd) in Beijing, the official added.

The agreement comes in the wake of plans of both the software parks to establish a friendly relationship for the enhancement of better understanding and long-term cooperation.

The official said that Technopark has decided to promote co-operation between Indian IT Software companies located at Technopark and the Kochi InfoPark and the Beijing-based IT software and ITeS companies in various areas.

The areas of cooperation will include BPOs for Japan, South Korea and Mainland China; Software export and outsourcing services (embedded software) for Japanese, South Korean, American and European Markets; Software outsourcing training, specially training for BPOs, animation outsourcing and other allied areas.