The Hindu Business Line : Bangalore IT.COM from Nov 1

To consolidate the State's IT image, the Karnataka Government will open a second Electronic City at Mysore along with two software technology parks at Gulbarga and Belgaum.

Mumbai , Aug. 24

THE sixth edition of the Bangalore IT.COM from November 1 to 5 will focus on information, communication, media and telecom technologies (ICMT)

`Shape the future with ICMT' is the theme of the annual IT exposition, touted as Asia's largest IT fair. It will focus on animation, games and media technology as they present a huge $40-billion opportunity.

The event is organised by the Department of IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka.

The expo will showcase the might of the Indian IT industry, Karnataka in particular, said Mr M. K. Shankaralinge Gowda, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka.

Mr Gowda said Newsweek named Karnataka as the fourth largest tech cluster in the world, "with the State having the highest IT exports in India and receiving 60 per cent of all VC funds which have flowed into India."

To consolidate the State's IT image, the Government of Karnataka will open a second Electronic City at Mysore along with two software technology parks at Gulbarga and Belgaum.

According to a McKinsey study, Karnataka currently employs 2.10 lakh people in the IT/ITES sector. The State Government plans to increase the IT industry presence in secondary cities such as Mysore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Mangalore and Hubli, creating half a billion jobs by 2010, said Mr Gowda.

The State Government also plans to conduct BPO skill assessment tests with participation from the private sector. "This year we will test three lakh candidates and hope to make at least one lakh candidates employable," Mr Gowda said. Karnataka clocked IT exports of Rs 18,100 crore last year reflecting a growth of 46 per cent. Of this, the BPO sector contributed exports worth Rs 2,200 crore, said Mr B.V. Naidu, Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Bangalore. In 2003-04, the State received foreign investment worth Rs 2,000 crore and 110 companies with foreign equity were set up in the State, he added.