The 12th edition of the annual IT event — Bangalore IT.biz — will be held for three days from November 11 at the Palace Grounds here. It would also serve to complement the Global Investors’ meet to be held in January.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology Katta Subramanya Naidu said about 800 software companies would be invited to participate in the event.
A new IT policy was under preparation and would be released next month.
The Government would also come out with new semi-conductor and hardware policies soon. A job fair would also form part of Bangalore IT.biz, and around 1,000 candidates will be provided jobs at the event.
Bangalore IT.biz 2009 is being organised by the Department of IT, BT and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka; Software Technology Parks of India-Bangalore; in partnership with the Government of Mexico.
Since many software companies are gradually coming out of recession, the Government is confident that many companies would participate in the IT event this year, the Minister said.
Industrialists such as Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Infosys chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy and Wipro Technologies founder Azim Premji would be invited to the event, Mr. Naidu said.
State’s welcome
As many as 65 experts would participate and deliver speeches on the IT industry, and issues related to the domestic and external markets to overcome problems caused by the economic slowdown. “Karnataka is number one in the country’s IT industry and we are ready to offer all facilities to companies wishing to invest in the State,” he said. About 80,000 acres of land is available in and around Bangalore to set up software industries, Mr. Naidu said.
A quiz programme would be organised for school and graduate students during the three-day event.
Students who develop innovative IT products would be honoured and awarded with cash prizes. The event would facilitate one-on-one discussions with experts, and provide a platform for businessmen to grab new opportunities, he said.
Exports
Referring to exports, he said the State’s IT exports stood at Rs. 71,000 crore in 2008-09 compared to Rs. 58,500 crore during the previous year.
The State’s IT industry accounted for almost one-third of India’s IT exports. He added that the IT industry had been adversely affected by the slowdown.
