NASSCOM chief projects NE as IT destination

Guwahati, Aug 31 (UNI) Within a month of Infosys mentor Narayana Murthy's visit to Asom, NASSCOM president Kiran Karnik is in the state, to highlight the North East's potential as an IT destination.

Mr Karnik is here to take part in the inaugural function of the three-day NICT 2006, which got underway today. The NICT 2006, a job mart of basically IT-based industries, has been organised by English daily 'The Telegraph' and the NASSCOM.

The business leader pointed out that NE, with its huge human resource, could soon turn into the latest IT destination, after Kolkata successfully established itself on the IT map of the country.

However, the government must put in sincere efforts, Mr Karnik added.

He spelled out at least two fields which needed urgent initiative - the government must ensure that human resource of the region were honed properly and that adequate infrastructure was developed to attract investors.

He said, ''In the present day, work goes to where there is talent.'' Mr Karnik said the government's focus on e-governance has created more opportunities for the IT sector. ''The drive towards e-governance will see huge investment by the government. The IT industry can capitalise on the input,'' he said.

He added that the RTI Act would also accelerate development of e-governance.

A guiding force during the time India faced backlash in the outsourcing issue, the NASSCOM chief said engineering was the latest fad in the industry.

Mr Karnik emphasised that the country could target 20 per cent of engineering outsourcing by 2020.

He also highlighted the need to seek newer global markets like Europe, Japan, Africa and Latin America, instead of concentrating on America and England alone.

Mr Karnik reiterated that the IT industry was among the factors which led to a change in the country's image overseas.

Earlier, inaugurating the three-day NICT 2006, Asom governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh said, ''The North East has the best educated English speaking youth in the entire country. I can say this after working in different parts of the country during my long career.'' He said the people were still on the threshold of the IT revolution, which would prove to be another landmark for human civilisation.

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