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The Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore, has been trying to market the city as an ideal IT destination for over a decade now.
In the early years of this exercise, this industry body aggressively marketed the city's potential by drawing attention to the salubrious climate, talent pool availability, the entrepreneurial cult and the city's proximity to destinations both within and outside of India.
The CII would, during its annual flagship event – Connect Coimbatore (formerly known as Coimbatore IT.com) ensure that IT industry stalwarts and government machinery attend and recognise the city's potential.
The industry body was partially successful in its attempt at promoting this city, which basically is a manufacturing hub as an IT destination
This drew the attention of the Government to establish a Government –mooted Tidel Park here.
The private players though did not wait for the government to take the initiative but plunged into action by establishing IT parks in the city.
Mega players such as Cognizant Technology Solutions, Bosch and Perot Systems among others not only established their presence here, but expanded in a big way.
The going seemed good in the initial years and this was despite the apprehensions voiced by the local industrialists about IT per se.
Today, these very people seem to have recognised the importance of IT and no longer see it threatening their existence. They have accepted, but the IT biggies seem not to look at Coimbatore in their expansion plans.
Industry insiders feel that marketing is not enough to take the city to the next pedestal. And this is obvious from the poor occupancy at the Tidel Park, despite its strategic location. Almost two years have gone by since the inauguration of the Park, but takers still remain few and far.
In the midst of all this, the 12th edition of ‘Connect Coimbatore' was kicked off this morning at the Le Meridien here. Though it took off to a glittering start, the government machinery were not present at the event.
Is this sign of a step-motherly treatment? Sources preferred not to comment, but simply said: “we expect things to look up before the next edition of the Connect series.”
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