IBM-Rajiv Gandhi Institute aims at socio-eco issues

New Delhi, Apr 23: Global IT giant IBM and the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) will jointly set up a platform to address issues such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, energy and enviroment in India.

As a part of this collaboration, IBM and RGICS has launched a unique initiative called 'Face2Face', a leadership forum through which stakeholders, both public and private, will bring the issues of national importance in the forefront and initiate a public debate for remedial action. With the aim of nurturing the country as an innovation hub, empowering public sector leaders with information, and aligning industry with key development issues, the first Face2Face forum will focus on healthcare.

Entitled 'Role of Private Sector for Inclusive Healthcare System', the conference is being held today here. Mr Amar Singh, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Mr Analjit Singh, CEO Max Hospitals, Mr Shanker Annaswamy, MD, IBM India Pvt Ltd and Dr H Sudarshan, Karuna Trust and VGKK will be present on the occasion.

The conference delegates will include Members of Parliamentary Committee on Health, policy makers, academicians and officials from the multilateral and developmental bodies.

Commenting on this association, IBM India MD and Regional General Manager Shanker Annaswamy said, ''IBM's relationship with RGICS is premised on a long-term view of furthering socio-economic development and improved access to critical services.'' The company's collaboration with the RGICS is another important step toward growing India's innovation ecosystems and thereby advancing country's transformation.

IBM has made considerable investments in skills and talent development in India through various education, government outreach, and research and development initiatives.

UNI