NASSCOM SPL: Hope rules over fear at NILF '09

MUMBAI, INDIA: No matter how tough the times are, it's still light at the end of the tunnel for tough guys. The shaken spirit is palpable and so is the downbeat look, but we can still find grit and positive hope amidst it all.

The current global crisis has hit and hit hard. From what appears to surface from the business brethren at Nasscom India Leadership Forum-2009 (NILF) is the mode of accepting the hard reality and still keep the efforts towards a better future on.

Exploring business and discussing issues together is one such effort that is visible here.

About 1,200 delegates have congregated at NILF -2009 at Hyatt, Mumbai, today and this includes 22 foreign delegations, up from about 14 last year. The various regions showing up here include Ireland, Poland, Mauritius, China, Germany, Brazil, Egypt etc.

These people are looking here for methods of fighting the crisis together.

As some delegates share, they are scouting for joint avenues with Indian companies and collaboration is top on their agenda.

China or Philippines, it's no more about competition but collaboration. Like Aaron Liu, VP, Beyondsoft from China, who categorically rules out competition and replaces it with collaboration with India for adding more value and working together for APAC market.

Security concerns have been taken care of at the fore and as told by foreign delegates, there was no major deterrent arising from the Mumbai blasts.

There's more opportunity than fear as Jonathan De Luzuriaga, executive director, Industry Affairs, BPAP, Philippines takes it.

"We did get requests for statements when the unfortunate 26/11 happened in Mumbai and we always maintained that no country should capitalize on such incidents. As regards the deterrent, I am looking forward to the opportunity here over and above my safety etc. Crisis or terrorism, these are times of fighting with hope. And also, lightning doesn't strike the same place twice."

Egidio Zarrella, global-partner-in-charge, IT Advisory, KPMG, confidently seconds that. "Blasts are sad, but they cannot stop business. People will keep coming and talking. No crisis, economic or otherwise, can stop people from talking business."

Though the turnout is palpably low as observed by some delegates, mixed views continue.

"My colleagues have been coming here and they tell me it's different than other forums. But am still looking forward to the next two days," says Kellie Sullivan from UK who represents Ferguson Snell & Associates Ltd.

Phillippe Plateau, senior marketing consultant, Steria, from UK attributes the turnout impact to slowdown rather than security issues. "There was a slight delay following the Mumbai attacks possibly. But at Steria, we are still optimistic and company would be looking at exploring more business action as always."

Also hopeful is another delegate with his African peers from Rwanda. "It's my first time. I am looking forward," says Jerome Gasana, who is representing ICT Training and Research from Rwanda.

It might not be party as usual but it's business as usual for sure and interestingly from foreign shores camping here at the moment.