| The country’s premier and one-of-its-kind mega business IT meet – The Vibrant Gujarat IT Summit 2006, took a flying start on the morning of 1st December 2006 at The Grand Bhagwati, Ahmedabad. In what is a reflection of the faith of the investors at large in Gujarat’s business-friendly environment, an investment flow of more than Rs. 11,000 crore poured in the state which will create job opportunities of more than three lac people. |
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| The Vibrant Gujarat IT Summit organized by the Government of Gujarat in association with NASSCOM was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendrabhai Modi. The guests of honour were Shri B. Ramalinga Raju, Chairman, Satyam Computer & NASSCOM, Shri S. Ramadorai, CEO & MD , Tata consultancy Services and Shri Kiran Karnik, president, NASSCOM. The inaugural function was attended by a packed crowd of hundreds of people. In fact some of the attendees had to make good with arrangements made outside the main hall. Top representatives from the field of Information Technology (IT) in the country gathered at the State Government’s IT Summit. |
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| The inaugural ceremony which lasted for more than two hours was attended by delegates of leading IT companies like Mr. Bharat Desai (Syntel Inc.), Mr. Rajiv C. Mody (Sasken Communication Technologies) and Mr. Anup Gupta and representatives of multinational companies like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Wipro etc. |
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| Mr. Sudhir Mankad, Chief Secretary Gujarat, extended a hearty welcome to the fastest growing state in the country. This IT Summit will put Gujarat not on the Indian map but on the global map, he added. |
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| Delivering the inaugural address on the occasion, Chief Minister - Mr. Narendra Modi said that this IT Summit was an important step in the march towards progress of the State. He further added that the role of Government of Gujarat is that of a catalyst and we are committed with a consistent approach. We are a policy driven state and are committed to development to facilitate investors. Gujarat offers huge opportunities in KPO industry especially animation, financial and other services. He added that more than three lac people will get employment in the State with the development of the IT industry in the coming years. The Chief Minister’s address received a thunderous applause from the IT fraternity which was all ears to his speech. |
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Earlier speaking on the occasion, Shri Kiran Karnik, President NASSCOM, said that the IT sector has contributed a great deal to change India’s image in the international market. The country will now have to look at new growth centres of IT other than traditional ones. Gujarat has a huge potential of opportunities in IT sector. Apart from quality of life, the state is safe and secure, which is very important in this sector as people have to work at odd hours. Further, he feels that the human talent in Gujarat is fast progressing by the terrific initiative of the State Government. He further added that Gujarat is an outstanding place to invest in and anyone intending to expand his business cannot afford to skip Gujarat. |
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| Shri S. Ramadorai, Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said that he was happy to be here in Vibrant Gujarat, a state that is emerging as a global destination for investments in India. He added that not many people know that TCS continues to tap talent from the state for its global operations. He added that Gujarat has a great potential in the KPO sector, specifically the financial sector. After the ceremony of MoUs was over, Mr. Ramadorai made a major announcement of TCS investing in an IT SEZ in the state of Gujarat. |
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| Praising the efforts undertaken by the Gujarat Government, B. Ramalinga Raju, Chairman of Satyam Computers, said that the spirit of entrepreneurship in Gujarat is not only in the business community but also in the State Government. |
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| After the inaugural speeches, the signing of MoUs ceremony took place with several investors who pledged their commitment to the State. The investments included development of IT infrastructure, BPO services and other KPO ventures. The investors include M/s Adani Group, K Raheja Group , DLF Group, Hutchisson Essar Group, Mindspace, Azzure Technologies and Quality BPO Services to name a few. |
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| The Science and Technology Department Secretary, Mr. Raj Kumar delivered the vote of thanks to the investors and the IT fraternity which had assembled in a large number for the summit. |
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| Investors who attended the event were upbeat about the prospects in the state. Mr. Chris Robinson, MD of Quality BPO Services who is one of the investors in the state in the KPO sector said that Gujarat’s progress in the KPO sector will go a long way because of several advantages the state offers to the investors. Apart from good infrastructure, the business friendly attitude of the people at large makes the difference. Mr. Robinson announced an expansion project in the KPO sector amounting an approximate investment worth Rs. 86 crore including media, outsourcing and strategic consultancy, at this summit wherein more than one thousand people would be getting jobs over a period of three years. |
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| Mr. Ragesh Shah, MD of Online Infocom Pvt. Ld., a leading IT company, Ahmedabad said that the State Government’s initiative by organizing a Global Investors Summit dedicated to the IT sector is a welcome step as the State has tremendous potential in this sector. This initiative will go a long way in putting Gujarat on the fast track of global outsourcing business. |
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| Mr. Sunil Sood, Operations Director Western Region of Hutch Group, signed an MoU with the Government. According to Mr. Sood, Hutch’s Gujarat operations have been the largest in the country and we command the largest market share in GSM cellular phone market in the State. We owe a lot to the State and therefore, we have pledged investments worth Rs. 2,500 crore over a period of five years. Not to forget the fact that we are also coming to the number 1 state in the country, Mr. Sood added. |
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| Apart from the inaugural ceremony the dignitaries visited an exhibition an exhibition showcasing the IT opportunities in Gujarat with participants including HP, Wipro, TCS, Hutch, Raheja, DLF, Third Eye, GVFL, Creative Infocity etc. The theme pavilion of Gujarat showcased the investment potential and the opportunities available in the State. The exhibition has been organized by the Science and Technology Department. |
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| The other events included a Panel Discussion amongst leading luminaries of the IT fraternity with a focus on how to develop the IT sector in the State. |
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| This event marks a historic beginning of the State’s major forays in the IT sector and Gujarat will emerge as the most preferred destination for investors in the coming years. |
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| After the inauguration session and MOU signing Ceremony, CNBC CEO panel discussions on the theme : "Developing a collaborative model for Gujarat to emerge as the Silicon valley of Western India" took place which was moderated by CNBC Editor. |
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| The panelists were as under : |
| Mr. Bharat Desai |
Chairman & CEO, Syntel |
| Mr. Kiran Karnik |
President, NASSCOM |
| Mr .Pavan Vaish |
COO- IBM Daksh |
| Mr. Rajiv C. Mody |
Chairman & CEO Sasken Communication |
| Mr. Anup Gupta |
Head- Strategic Initiatives, WNS Global Services |
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| What IT Captains of India have said at
Vibrant Gujarat IT summit 2006 at Ahmedabad : |
"Gujarat is the leading state in terms of industrialization in India. The quality of human resources here is as good as in any other part of the World. With its ports and logistics management, it is most apt for KPO units and those providing financial services." |
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| (Shri S. Ramadorai, CEO & MD , Tata consultancy Services) |
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"If you (IT investors) don’t look at Gujarat you are making a mistake. Gujarat has everything going for it, right from supportive policy environment to a better quality of life. The safest destination for It sector, Gujarat is the best kept secret just waiting to happen." |
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| ( Shri Kiran Karnik, President, NASSCOM) |
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"Gujarat displays an undeniable spirit of entrepreneurship. Not just the companies, but the govt. is also very businesslike in approach. The state is set to take business to the next level and investors must shed their apprehensions and make full use of the opportunity." |
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| (Shri B. Ramalinga Raju, Chairman, Satyam Computer & NASSCOM) |
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"The next buzz in IT will be in Gujarat and it will be better. The need state however, needs to market itself more aggressively to announce its presence in the global scenario. It must also reform education at the schooling to improve the quality of workforce." |
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| (Shri Rajiv C. Mody, Chairman & CEO Sasken Communication) |
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| "As a business processing company we are expanding our operations across the country. Gujarat and Ahmedabad in particular, is on our radar but at this point of time there is no particular time frame as to when it would happen." |
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| (Shri Pavan Vaish COO- IBM Daksh |
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"CM Narendra Modi’s announcement to make Ahmedabad the most sought after destination by 2010 would prove to be a challenging but an achievable goal. Only a joint effort undertaken by businessmen, government and citizens will make it possible." |
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| (Shri Bharat Desai,Chairman & CEO, Syntel) |
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| A TV Programme on CNBC CEO Panel discussions is being telecasted on 24th December 2006 on CNBC TV 18 channel which would have repeat telecast again on 31.12.2006. |
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| At Vibrant Gujarat IT summit, big and small IT Players showcased their ware at the Exhibition held on 1-2 December 2006. They were all there pitching their software and hardware. Right from IT giants like WIPRO and HP down to realty biggies DLF and Raheja and Telecom giant like Hutch along with host of other big and small IT Players and IT park developers, they all were there at the Exhibition. |
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| Vibrant Gujarat IT summit has been successful to sell Gujarat high to IT biggies. After the draught, a virtual IT wave is all set to inundate Gujarat. Investments worth over Rs. 11,000 Crore in IT parks and SEZs, IT/ITES units and telecom infrastructure promising the generation of over 3.27 lac job over the next 1-5 years. The IT industry has spotted a new star on the horizon- Gujarat- the most preferred destination of today. IT’s reality today in Gujarat. |
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