|
|
Punjab Fast
Emerging as a Destination for BPO Industry:
Secretary – IT, Punjab (9 Feb, 2006)
“Punjab is
fast emerging as the most favoured business and
investment destination. The quantum rise in
investment in the industry itself shows the
confidence reposed by the industry in the
growing economy of Punjab,” stated Mr N S Kalsi,
Secretary cum Director, Department of
Information technology, Government of Punjab,
while addressing the delegates, at the
Interactive Session on “Opportunities for the
BPO Industry,” organized by CII-CCAI in
Chandigarh today.
Sharing
about the futuristic initiatives taken by the
Punjab Government to bring in national and
international IT / ITES companies to
Punjab,
Mr Kalsi said,”The Punjab Government has
earmarked 1% of the yearly budget for promotion
of IT / ITES. Venture
capital fund with an initial investment of Rs 20
crore is set aside for IT / ITES Industry.”
He
further added that a statewide information
network, internet & data connectivity at
Mohali and at each district HQ, 100% foreign
equity permitted, special package of fiscal
incentives were some of the other initiatives
that the State Government had offered to promote
IT / ITES Industry in the State. Quoting from a
survey report of the World Bank, he said, “It
takes minimum time to start a new business in
Punjab
amongst all states in
India.”
He called for tangible action by BPO industry to
cash in on the opportunities available for
investment in Punjab.
While
highlighting the strengths of the new North
Triad comprising Punjab, Haryana, H.P.,
Chandigarh and J&K, Mr Kalsi shared that the
visionary and responsive administration
committed to free enterprise, quality
infrastructure including industry parks and
built up space, strong and vibrant economy,
dynamic & productive people, institutional
mechanism for fast track clearances, peaceful
law and order environment and harmonious
industrial relations were some of the key
factors which made the new North Triad, an ideal
destination for investment.
During
the Interactive Session, Mr. S.C. Aggrawal,
Principal Secretary-Industries and Commerce,
Government of Punjab, reassured the industry of
full support from the State to promote setting
up of BPO projects. He added that the State was
also committed to provide a conducive
environment for the industry to
grow.
CII,
in association with CCAI and City & Guilds
South Asia, has launched “eKalibre”, a
specialised training and certification programme
for the BPO industry. Informing the delegates
about eKalibre, Mr Ravi Pillai, Director, City
& Guilds (South
Asia)
Pvt Ltd, said, “The programme equips the
aspirants with generic as well as domain
specific knowledge thereby providing enormous
advantage to the industry in terms of a uniform
scaled base to choose from, cost savings,
predictability of success of campaigns &
many more.”
In
a very insightful presentation on
‘eSecure: Continuous & Proactive
Security Assurance’, Capt. Felix
Mohan, CEO, Secure Synergy Private
Limited, said, "The purpose
of eSecure is to empower and facilitate
call centres and BPO organisations
to meet the challenges of data protection
and privacy of customer information
by providing ‘continuous and proactive
security assurance’ at a very nominal
and affordable cost".
Earlier,
Mr. P.S. Sehgal, Member,
CII Punjab State Council & Managing
Director, Quarkcity (India) Pvt
Ltd, in his welcome address, said,”
The ITES-BPO industry within India
is growing at an unprecedented rate.
Despite the growing global backlash
against outsourcing of call centres
and back office operations to India,
the country has emerged as the global
hub for corporate back-office services.”
He further added that it was imperative
to devise suitable methods to sustain
and enhance this growth for the
long term and build a large pool
of manpower for the BPO industry
which should be benchmarked to international
standards.
A
host of CEOs from IT/ITES industry and IT
experts participated in the deliberations,
states the release.
Chandigarh
9
February 2006
|
|
