Gujarat will have its own pattern for development of the Information Technology (IT) industry and not follow other states blindly, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel said.

Patel was delivering the inaugural address at the Gujarat IT entrepreneur’s meet jointly organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Gujarat Electronics and Software Industries Association (GESIA). According to Keshubhai, the direction for development of IT and related industries in the State had been evolved after exhaustive discussions with experts in the field.

However, he added that the State would not shy away from following positive steps taken by other states. "Entrepreneurial skills of Gujaratis, if used for IT can help in development of the industry," Patel said and added that the State would fulfill all reasonable demands for development of the industry.

GESIA president Sunil Gambhir expressed the need to market Gujarat more aggressively in the IT industry.

"Though the state is doing many things, the impression is that it is not doing much. There is a need for strong focus on the sector. In view of the fierce competition, one can either be a dominant player or get out of the industry," Gambhir said.

Gambhir stressed the need for more skilled manpower. According to him, the basic computer training provided by the Industrial Training Institutes was not sufficient. "We need to train the faculty which provides IT education," Gambhir said.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, S K Shelat, assured the gathering that the State would ensure that enough demand for their products was created. "E-governance drive by the State Government is a step in this direction. However, the penetration of IT products in the industrial sector is not enough. The business to business and business to consumer interaction using IT needs to be increased," Shelat said.

In his welcome address, GCCI chairman Mukesh Patel stressed the need for providing venture capital for IT projects. "Such projects rely heavily on knowledge workers and their asset base is much lower than a conventional manufacturing concern. This being the position, banks and financial institutions are averse to funding start-ups," Patel said.

Quality manpower, Mukesh Patel said, was necessary to achieve targeted turnover within a stipulated time frame. "Considering this, setting up of institutional mechanisms on the lines of Indian Institute of Information Technology become critical," Patel said.

Republished from Indian Express