Chandigarh IT conclave 'e-Revolution' in first week of August

An IT Conclave 'e-Revolution 2007' would be arranged in Chandigarh in the first week of August aimed at mobilising the potential investors to explore business opportunities in Chandigarh.

The Band of Angels, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneur) and Department of Information Technology, Chandigarh, in synergy with STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) propose to make a concerted effort to invite more entrepreneurs in Chandigarh.

The fact that Chandigarh region (that includes Mohali and Panchkula) is lagging behind can be corroborated from the figures provided by the Director, STPI, Mohali, Sanjay Tyagi that the three cities exported software worth Rs 594 crore where as total software exports from India stood at Rs 1.46,0000 crore last year.

First two IT conclaves (this year would be third one) did not meet the high expectations of the organisers.

The development at the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park is taking at a slow pace and small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) do not find it viable to set up their software development centres in the IT park as the built up space is exorbitant. They do not want to invest in land.

"We can operate from any commercial space outside IT park at a substantially low investment as a registrations with STPI can fetch us benefits of exports," says one of the entrepreneur.

Those who are catering only to domestic market also do not want a space in IT park as they do not seek the benefits of SEZs.

Perceiving a lukewarm response from IT players, Chandigarh IT department this time went one step further by incorporating Band of Angels to attract small and medium growing business enterprises.

Although large players like Infosys, Wipro, Dell and Quark are present here but much remains to be seen. The base of small companies is stronger in the region as most of the companies exporting are the SMEs.

The administration also seems to encourage the SMEs as they plan to bring the potential entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and veterans on the same platform in the e-Revolution.