The Hindu Business Line : NASSCOM 2006: <I>Global IT parks woo Indian cos </I>

"We are only 30 minutes away from the US, we are more tax-friendly, and it would be easier to set up centres and to bring in people," said Ms Wisseh, Managing Partner, Bahamas India Technology Agency, an outfit that promotes Indian ventures in The Bahamas. There are no Indian companies yet in The Bahamas, but she hoped there would soon be some.

If the number of international agencies trying to attract Indian IT investments can be an indication of the success of the Indian IT story, then it was very evident at Nasscom 2006.

Malaysia Development Corporation's Multimedia Development Corridor has been attending Nasscom's annual meet for six years in a row now.

With 70-80 Indian companies already there, the corporation is pushing for still more, said its Vice-President, Mr Jagdish Dhaliwal, who was here "to observe technology trends and industry developments."

Knowledge of Japanese and Chinese among the Malaysians (a great attraction for Indian companies), low wage inflation and low staff attrition, he said, were the Corridors' unique selling proposition.

The Welsh Development Agency was one of the top sponsors of Nasscom 2006, and was armed with a study done by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the region. The region is on a stretch with the largest concentration of software skills in the UK, and certain parts of Wales also offered financial incentives to companies depending on the number and quality of jobs safeguarded. High levels of staff retention were claimed.

Rushing about the corridors of the Nasscom could be seen several representatives from China, and Arab delegates representing Dubai Outsourcing Zone. Apart from global contingent, officials from various States promoted their IT parks.

The Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation officials were here to promote Crystal IT Park in Indore. All the attractions of a city minus the pollution, traffic and property costs... this was how Crystal was being promoted by a strong contingent of State government officials who also said that Crystal is on its way to applying for product specific SEZ status.

Officials from Chandigarh were also present. Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu's Deputy Managing Director, Mr B. Evanesan, was promoting the IT parks of Tamil Nadu.