Goa hosts outsourcing symposium
Stressed the need to hasten Goa's slow pace in the IT/BPO sector, despite a large English speaking population.
Friday, February 11, 2005
PANAJI, Goa: A two-day symposium - Goa Agenda - on the theme "Outsourcing: Challenges Ahead" organized by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held in Panaji recently. The third IT symposium, in the series under the banner of Goa Agenda, was addressed by number of nationally acclaimed IT leaders and attended by distinguished crowds drawn from industry, academics and administration.
The first symposium was held on the theme "IT for Society" which was followed by "IT: Emerging Markets". While inaugurating the event, vice chancellor of Goa University, P Zacharias emphasized on the need for the industry and academics to work in close tandem. He strongly advocated the creation of Technology Transfer Centers in the Universities to facilitate transfer of technology to the industry especially small-scale industry.
According to Zacharias, every university needs to put in place a structure that will bring industry and academia together. He added that he has already taken steps in this direction to make Goa University the first University to accomplish the same.
The chief guest of the inaugural function, D-Link (India) MD, KR Naik termed Goa as an ideal destination for BPO for its large English speaking population and unique culture.
In his welcome address, president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nitin Kunkolienkar said that though Goa ranks high on most of the parameters required for BPO sector, nothing much is being done to capitalize on Goa's advantages. He also expressed a need for ascertaining the reasons for Goa's backwardness in the IT sector and expressed confidence that Goa will get its due in the BPO sector soon.
Speaking in the valedictory function Chief commissioner of Customs and Excise for Pune and Nagpur region BS Ganu said that intellectual availability in India can pursue innovative solutions for the challenges faced in the field of outsourcing. Stressing the importance of R&D, he said that unlike manufacturing industry where R&D is a capital incentive proposition, it is relatively cheaper in case of the knowledge industry. He also observed that Goa has highest literacy level and availability of appropriate manpower, besides being a well-known destination world over.
The two-day symposium saw four technical sessions devoted to software development, research and development, business process outsourcing and social and political opportunities and concerns.
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