The IT and ITES sector in the country is bound to grow at an impressive rate in the near future, according to Mr Rajiv Vaishnav, Vice-President of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).
He was speaking at a function organised here on Wednesday by Symbiosys Technologies, a local IT company, to honour 650 merit engineering students from 43 colleges in the north-coastal districts. Ms D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for HRD, was the chief guest at the function.
IT and ITES sector need not depend on outsourcing as many verticals, both domestic and overseas, were opening up, he added.
Steady growth
“The growth is going to be steady between 11 and 14 per cent and new verticals such as health care, public sector, e-learning, e-governance, digital medium, retail are going to support the sector in a big way,” he said.
Nasscom in association with the National Skill Development Centre had launched the Nasscom Assessment Competence course. The course would shortly be launched in Andhra Pradesh.
Competition
About competition from countries such as China, the Philippines and Thailand, he said, “We are far ahead of these countries and they should not be perceived as a threat. Countries such as China and the Philippines have human resource but they cannot handle complexities like we can. India is way ahead in this area. By the time they come up to our level we will be miles ahead. They can never catch up as we are a generation ahead. Moreover, in all such countries the middle and senior level management is in the hands of the expatriates, unlike in India.”
Tier-two cities
He said the focus was now on tier II and III cities. “Cities like Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh and Jaipur are in the radar of IT companies, mainly because of the cost mitigating factor. But the success of this move depends of three things: Infrastructure, talent and government support,” he said.
Mr O. Naresh Kumar, CEO of Symbiosys Technologies, said girls had outnumbered boys in the toppers list, but they should take care of their health.
Mr. Ravi Easwarapu, centre head of Mahindra Satyam here, said the company would expand its operations here.
Mr L. Rathaiah, founder of the Vijnan Educational group, urged the students to look beyond the IT sector. He advised them to focus on entrepreneurship, core sectors and civil services.