The Hindu Business Line : TN expo Connect 2004 to focus on domestic market

THE fourth edition of Tamil Nadu's annual ICT show, Connect 2004, will see greater thrust on the domestic enterprise ICT (information, communication and technology) market, and solutions for manufacturing, services and Government sectors.

To be held from September 22-25 at the Chennai Trade Centre, the event hopes to attract about 150 exhibitors, compared to 80 last year, and about 20,000 business visitors.

The event will feature a four-day exhibition and an enterprise ICT conference focusing on manufacturing, services and governance.

Also on the cards are conferences on wireless technology, I-Govern, smart manufacturing and I-Serve, said Mr Ranjit Pisharoty, Convenor, IT & BPO Panel, CII-Tamil Nadu, a co-host of the event along with the Tamil Nadu Government.

There will be focus on quality of IT in public services and spelling out opportunities and challenges in replicating e-governance models at Connect 2004, he told newspersons.

There would be discussions on issues and challenges in telemedicine.

With most ICT companies focussing on solutions for small and medium enterprise (SMEs), Connect 2004 would also have companies offering low-cost and efficient solutions for SMEs.

The event is likely to attract about 1,000 visitors from the SME sector, he said.

"With the WTO regulations in place by December 2004, there is a need for cost-effective solutions for SMEs to fight global competition."

According to Mr Pisharoty, confirmed participation of international delegations has been received from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Singapore and Canada.

Customised packages would be offered to these delegates to showcase Tamil Nadu's offerings in various sectors, including infrastructure and education.

Mr Vivek Harinarain, the Tamil Nadu Information Technology Secretary, said that with Chennai established as a preferred IT destination, this year's event would focus more on promoting the city, and the State as a whole, as a destination of choice for ITES and BPO firms.

According to him, last year there was a problem with availability of readymade space for the IT firms. But this has been overcome.

A lot of companies are moving into Chennai, and about five million sq ft of space has been provided in the city to various firms in the last few months.

Out of this, 2.2 million sq ft of space is being constructed and the rest is in the process of getting constructed.

"This is a big leap forward as far as Chennai is concerned," he said.

Connect 2004 would showcase the State's ICT skills, capabilities, ICT infrastructure and technical skills in a major way.

The State Government, through Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu, would showcase all the facilities and infrastructure available for potential investors.