Goa vies a place in world IT map

Niraj Naik

GOA: The premier trade and commerce body of the state, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the Government of Goa, has commenced a national level series of seminars to discuss various impending issues facing the IT industry in the country. This initiative has been undertaken with the objective of putting Goa on the world IT map.

The first in the series, branded as Goa Agenda, was held on the theme of ‘Information Technology for Society’ last year. With the objective to emphasize on the homegrown solutions with indigenous R&D and applications that are focused on the operation-clerical users, the managers and the governors of processes delivering the products and services for society, the next Goa Agenda will be organized on the theme ‘Emerging Markets in IT’. The event will be held on February 20 and 21, 2004 at Cidade de Goa in the capital city of Panaji. Several key leaders from Indian IT industry as well as leaders from the state will put their heads together to deliberate on the new emerging Indian IT markets.

The meet is also seen as the much needed impetus to Goa’s IT industry. According to GCCI president Nitin Kunkolienkar, "One of the prime objectives of this meet is to place Goa on the world IT map".

"Goa offers the ideal place for co-locating R&D at a national technology park to generate homegrown technologies. Annual venture funding fairs, technology fairs could catalyze the creation of the new emerging Indian IT markets," he added.

One of the key concerns that emerged during the last Goa Agenda was that the traditional Indian IT markets have catered to specific industry classes in remote geographies with foreign technologies and limited service offerings. It was also concluded that the emerging markets are expected to be three-six fold the traditional market and offer to focus on societal processes within India.

(CyberMedia News Service)