IT investors to meet in Hubli

IT investors to meet in Hubli
The Hindu.com

Staff Correspondent

Infosys, IBM confirm participation; availability of land to be highlighted
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Invitations sent to more than 150 information technology companies

Website for the event, www.destinationhubli.in, launched
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HUBLI: Software majors, such as Infosys, IBM, Neilsoft and 24x7 Customers Pvt. Ltd., have confirmed their participation in the "IT (information technology) Investors' Meet" scheduled to be held in Hubli on Saturday.

Addressing presspersons after launching the website for the event, www.destinationhubli.in, here on Monday, M.S. Srikar, Deputy Commissioner, Dharwad district, said efforts were on to invite companies which were keen on taking up expansion plans in Hubli.

To a question, he said the objective of the investors' meet was not confined to marketing the Hubli IT Park. "We want to make investors aware of the potential of the twin cities (Hubli-Dharward) for the IT industry. The IT park is suitable for small- and medium-scale software industries. But big companies in the sector require separate land for setting up units. During the meet, we will highlight the availability of land," he said.

Mr. Srikar said invitations had been sent to more than 150 IT companies. "We are receiving confirmation of participation. Merely getting more participants does not serve any purpose. Our focus is on getting the attention of 50 to 60 potential investors who are keen on investing in Hubli," he said.

Mr. Srikar said the post-lunch session of the meet was for marketing Hubli as a destination for investment. During the session, the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) and the Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry would make presentations on infrastructure improvements and business opportunities. To a question, Mr. Srikar said about 100 hectares of land around the twin cities had been acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board, and it could be used by big IT companies.

Response cell


Mr. Srikar said a response cell had been set up at his office in Dharwad for giving information on the investors' meet. The website gives details of the event and the names and phone numbers of persons to contact for information.

HDMC Commissioner P. Manivannan told presspersons the corporation would provide adequate facilities for companies interested in making investments, and it had set up a project cell.

The State Department of Information Technology, HDMC, Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation, Software Technology Parks of India, BIC Society and the BVB College of Engineering and Technology are organising the meet.