Sixth edition of Connect-2006 launched

Chennai, Aug 11: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Tamil Nadu government today launched the sixth edition of Connect 2006, the annual Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) event.

The three-day conference-cum-exposition to be held at The Chennai Convention Centre, here between September eight and ten, would focus on what comprises a unique knowledge ecosystem and how that ecosystem can be further strengthened to make Tamil Nadu, the destination of choice for knowledge-based industries.

The conference would bring together eminent global speakers from all the key segments that make up the ecosystem--academia, industry, government and professional bodies-- and the exposition will showcase products, technologies, solutions and services across the entire ICT of hardware and electronics, telecommunications, software and BPO, it said.

Connect 2006 will see International participation from The Netherlands, Japan, Korea and Australia and explore synergies across nations for a mutually beneficial relationship and growth, the release said.

Mr Maran, in a statement said Connect 2006 brings together all the key constituents - policy makers, academicians, industry representatives and others who propel growth of Knowledge economy, he said. It would help India and Tamil Nadu to identity actions and evolve strategies that would further improve our position in the global software and services export sector, he added.

Tamil Nadu was fast emerging as a manufacturing hub both in the telecom and IT hardware sector and with the presence of Nokia, Motorola, Flextronics and Foxcon, the State was poised to become a leading ICT hub in this part of the world, Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, State Industries Department said.

Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman, Connect 2006 and Director, TVS Electronics said "Connect 2006 will showcase the successes that multiple countries have seen in creating knowledge clusters, and look at how best Tamil Nadu can leverage the best practices and learned lessons to create a self sustaining eco-system that will further strengthen the knowledge economy."

UNI