INDIA NEWS

             A Seminar on Indian information technology and prospects for co-operation was organised jointly by the High Commission of India, London, and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce in Edinburgh on 27 September 2001. Senior representatives from Scottish and Indian companies participated in the Seminar, which was the first event of its kind in Scotland to highlight India Inc in the IT Sector.  

            Mr. Alex Neil, Convenor of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee of the Scottish Parliament presided over the event. Mr. Lex Gold, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, chaired and conducted the Seminar. Mr. Nareshwar Dayal, High Commissioner for India, delivered the inaugural address. The strengths of the Indian IT industry and the diverse range of opportunities available in India were highlighted in the presentations made by Mr. A.S. Lakshminarayanan, Resident Manager - UK, Tata Consultancy Services; Mr. Sudip Nandy, Vice-President – Europe, Wipro Technologies; and Mr. Sapan Parekh of SKP Cross Border Consulting. The experience of Scottish companies in sourcing IT services from India was outlined in the presentation made by Mr. Barry Hughes, Group IT HR Manager of Aegon UK Plc.  

Welcoming the Indian and Scottish companies to the Seminar, Mr. Lex Gold recalled that the first-ever Scottish business mission to India materialised last year when an MoU was signed between Scottish Chambers and CII. He said that plans were afoot for a second Scottish business mission to India in early 2002. The Consul General of India in Edinburgh Mr. S.M.Gavai, and Mr. Gold noted the recent upswing in Indo-Scottish relations.  

During his keynote address, Mr. Alex Neil expressed his resolve that Scottish and Indian companies should benefit from the exciting developments that are taking place in both countries. This was particularly relevant in the context of the need to drive forward competitiveness and expertise in e-Commerce in Scotland. He noted the need for high quality skilled IT professionals from other countries like India, in particular those with managerial and linguistic abilities. 

            High Commissioner for India outlined the strengths of the Indian economy, particularly the IT sector, as well as the continuing consolidation of India-UK trade-economic ties. Annual trade turnover was running at over £ 5 billion. He emphasised that provision of IT services to the UK from India was a response towards fulfilling an existing need in the UK, and that Indian IT services need not be viewed as a threat to the UK industry. The UK food sector where Indian food had become extremely popular in the UK, or the health sector where Indian doctors have made vast contributions to the NHS, were evidence of how UK food and health sectors have benefited by working closely with India, without being threatened.  

            In the presentations made by the Indian and Scottish companies, the reasons as to why India was the country of choice for addressing UK companies’ needs were outlined. These included:- i) good understanding by Indian IT companies of client’s requirements; ii) quick learning ability; iii) ability to mobilise a team at short notice; iv) timely delivery of services well within the anticipated cost; v) good value for money; and vi) the virtually zero-tax option for British companies setting up their own development centres in India. Besides outsourcing, other avenues available to foreign companies like setting up their own R&D centres, own development centres and joint ventures were highlighted. 

            Senior representatives from over forty Scottish companies/ organisations from diverse sectors including financial services, trading, and education attended the Seminar. Representatives from the Scottish government and media were also present. 23 Indian IT companies present at the Seminar had meaningful discussions with interested Scottish companies on the margins of the Seminar.

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 Edinburgh
27^th September 2001