Forum to market north Karnataka launched

Forum to market north Karnataka launched
The Hindu

`BIC Society will make the region a preferred destination'

• IT Department is conducting BSAT to help graduates get jobs in BPO sector
• People told to speak for the place instead of blaming the Government
• Bob Hoekstra says focus should be on Indian companies
• Stress is on developing secondary IT clusters

DHARWAD: A forum to make north Karnataka a preferred destination for information technology activities was launched in Dharwad on Friday.

Launching the forum known as the BIC Society, M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda, Secretary, Information Technology and Biotechnology, commended the venture as indicative of private-public participation.

Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda also announced that the Information Technology Department would provide skill assessment training programme to students of Hubli-Dharwad region free.

Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda said his department is conducting a BPO Skills Assessment and Training (BSAT) programme in association with private companies to develop soft skills among fresh graduates and make them eligible for jobs in the BPO sector.

He called upon the people of the region not to blame the Government for everything and said, "You should start speaking for the place, highlight its advantages. In this knowledge driven economy, progress can be achieved only through public-private partnership."

Bob Hoekstra, Chief Executive Officer, Philips Software Centre, Bangalore, called upon those trying to attract software industries to north Karnataka to focus on Indian companies to start with.

"Show them your abilities. Make them trailblazers. You should grab what the information technology companies are bringing from far away places. You should also try to create quality living conditions based on which experienced and successful people will repatriate," Mr. Bob Hoekstra said.

In his presentation, Mr. Bob Hoekstra dealt with various aspects related to the information technology sector in India, its challenges, the experience of his company in the country and what he thinks are the drawbacks.

Anant Koppar, Chief Executive Officer, Mphasis Technologies, delivered the keynote address. He also mentioned about developing secondary clusters; identifying and developing secondary cities as information technology hubs.

Earlier making the introductory remarks, B.S. Patil, President, BIC Society, explained the objectives of the society.

"Through various programmes we are trying to market the region," he added.

Mr. Patil said Prabhakar Kore of KLE Society, Belgaum, and Shamanur Shivashankarappa of Bapuji Educational Society, Davangere, have donated Rs. 10 lakhs each for the programmes which the society plans to carry out.

M.S. Subhas, Chairman of the society, made a presentation on the society, its objectives, programmes and the advantages that the region has.

V. Umesh, Development Commissioner, Dyaberi, Deputy Commissioner, Davangere, M.S. Srikar, Deputy Commissioner, P. Manivannan, Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, and founding members of the society, Ashok Shettar, R.S. Hugar and S.M. Dhume, were present.