Committee on International Relations

Group of Technopark Companies (GTech) in the last meeting decided to set up a forum to facilitate International Relations for the IT community in the state. The objective of the Forum is to develop a strategic and long-term structural framework to build partnerships with Institutions and Business organisations in various countries to further fuel the growth of IT Sector in the state and help the member companies to scout for business opportunities.

The forum would be mandated with the following tasks
a. To work with stakeholders from a wide spectrum of business and academia in select countries to develop market and business opportunities for the members
b. Disseminate information to the members on the business opportunities available in Foreign countries
c. To identify champions in the administration in key countries of our business interests to support Kerala
d. To undertake trade missions to help members scout for Business opportunities
e. To network with the Foreign Trade missions and Embassy offices in India
f. To organise specific marketing campaigns, road shows and websites to promote KeralaTo ensure positioning of Kerala brand in line with the India Inc brand.

UK@Thiruvananthapuram

British Deputy High Commission and GTech in association with Nasscon, TiE Kerala Chapter and Kerala chamber of commerce and Industry is organising a one day session on UK@Thiruvananthapuram on 6th of August 2009 at Hotel Taj Residency. The programme is aimed at providing first hand information to companies in the IT Industry on oppourtunities and investments available in UK

An Inclusive and Pro-Poor Budget: GTech

Group of Technopark Companies (GTech) have expressed their appreciation to the Union Government for supporting the Technology Industry in the state by abolishing the Fringe Benefit Tax and also extending the STPI scheme for one year. GTech also welcomed the announcement on the exemption of excise duty and CVD on packaged software.

Terming the budget as an Inclusive one with a Social Focus, GTech in a press statement expressed their concern on the high fiscal deficit of 6.2 %. The strong emphasis in the Union Budget on Sectors like Agriculture, Infrastructure Development, Education and Rural development is on the right track for inclusive growth.

However, considering the current global slump in IT business as a result of the Economic Crises, GTech felt that the Government should have announced more schemes to help small and medium-sized Indian IT companies to bid for IT projects from the domestic market. GTech also felt that Government should consider extending the STPI scheme till 2015 to support the IT Industry operating in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

GTech also felt that launching of the schemes like Mission in Education through ICT will help in the deployment of Information Technology to enhance the quality of education at the grass root level in the country.