HYDERABAD: Asserting that Andhra Pradesh was the most happening state notwithstanding the problems, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy urged IT companies to continue to expand their operations. Addressing captains of IT industry at a curtain raiser for the "Advantage AP 2011" conference to be held in the city on March 1 and 2, the chief minister said, "Your presence in the state is a great motivating factor for students studying here. With companies like you here, they look up to you as a benchmark to improve themselves. The steady increase in software exports from AP indicates the vibrant IT and ITEs industry in the state. The clearance given to Rs 28,000 crore worth investment proposals in the last 24 hours speaks for itself."
The chief minister expressed happiness at being informed about the response to the event, where over 1,000 delegates, including distinguished CEOs and CIOs from manufacturing and service sectors, have confirmed participation. Reddy was informed that over 60 eminent industry experts would speak at various sessions, apart from showcasing 80 innovative software products.
Some of the top officials from IT&C ministry (DIT joint secretary Shankar Agarwal), Indian railways (IT GM Centre for Railway Information Systems) and Indian army (deputy director-general IT Brig Sanjeev Khanna) would be present during the event.
IT secretary Ratna Prabha said the objective of the conference was to provide a forum for IT and ITEs companies, academic institutions, governments, end-customers of various industries, to collaborate and leverage the productive environment in the state.
The event consists of interactive sessions and a software product exhibition. "All 200 stalls at the exhibition have been booked," Ratna Prabha said.
Our endeavour is "to position Andhra Pradesh as the leading intellectual capital of the world, by nurturing entrepreneurship, research and innovation, to achieve global excellence in IT products and services," said Bipin P, secretary of ITsAP (The IT & ITES Industry Association of Andhra Pradesh, formerly Hyderabad Software Exporters Association).
Meanwhile, Nasscom regional director Bidhan Kankate thanked the state government for creating a congenial atmosphere in the city, despite periodic incidents and interruptions. "IT and ITes companies are functioning as normal as ever," he said.
