HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA, LONDON
PRESS RELEASE: SEMINAR ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
A Seminar on Information Technology was organised jointly by the High
Commission of India, London, and the Confederation of Indian Industry at the
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 7 September 2000.
Senior representatives from British and the Indian companies actively
participated in the Seminar, which was the first event of its kind in the UK to
highlight India Inc in the IT Sector.
The second session of the Seminar focussed on the experience of the
UK-based companies with Indian information technology.
Senior Directors of Xerox Europe, Hays Group, Barclays Private Bank and
FER Limited made detailed presentations in the second session.
The Seminar was attended by senior representatives from over sixty five
UK based companies from diverse sectors, including banking and finance,
manufacturing, services and trading. Representatives
from the British Government and media were also present.
During her keynote address, Ms. Hewitt, E-Commerce Minister, noted the
continuing consolidation of India-UK trade and economic linkages.
Estimates for 2000 showed that trade turnover will be running at nearly
£ 4 billion, well on course to meet the target set by the Secretary of State
for Trade and Industry Stephen Byers of an increase in trade by 20% over the
next two years. In the IT sector,
she expressed her determination that Indian and British companies should benefit
from the exciting developments that are taking place in both countries.
She referred to her forthcoming visit to India in November 2000, where
she would see for herself the new, exciting developments in the IT Sector, and
would look at ways to standardise business partnerships between British and
Indian IT companies. She highlighted the “Get Connected” initiative, launched
in November 1999 to gorge an IT alliance between India and the UK to drive
forward competitiveness and expertise in E-Commerce.
On the issue of skills shortages in the UK, she emphasised the UK
Government’s initiatives to strengthen the UK education and training systems,
while at the same time attracting high quality skilled professionals from other
countries like India. She
reaffirmed the UK Government’s goal of making the UK the best place in the
world to trade electronically by 2002. In
this context, she called upon UK companies to convert the “competitive
threat” from Indian companies into “competitive advantages” through
“marriages” with them.
High Commissioner for India outlined the strengths of the Indian IT
sector and the initiatives being taken by the Government of India to create a
vibrant enabling policy environment in the sector.
He drew attention to the huge prospects for foreign IT companies and
professionals for investments, R&D, joint ventures, and imports and exports
of goods and services. He
highlighted the joint work between the Indian and British side in the area of
easing the restrictions on Indian IT professionals working in the UK, as also
the new opportunities that advancements in IT had made available to the UK based
small and medium enterprises.
Mr. John Higgins, DG, CSSA, gave an overview of the UK IT services and
software sector and examined the current state of the market.
He examined current practices of Indian companies working in the UK and
drew pointers for their success.
In the second session, Senior Directors of UK based companies, in their
respective presentations, brought out the reasons as to why they chose Indian IT
for their needs. These reasons
included good understanding by Indian IT companies of client’s requirements;
ability to mobilise a team at short notice; and timely delivery of services well
within the anticipated cost. The UK
based IT companies reaffirmed their intention to continue to use the services of
Indian IT companies in future, emphasising their satisfaction with the work
carried out by Indian IT companies.
Fifteen Indian IT companies, who participated in the Seminar, had direct
discussions with the UK based companies on the margins of the Seminar.
Birmingham
September 7, 2000.