Norway keen on IT partnership

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, APRIL 23. Norway looks forward to developing a long- term partnership with India in the information technology sector, and the focus will be on outsourcing IT-related work from India, especially Bangalore, the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, has said.

Speaking to presspersons at the Indo-Norwegian IT Business Seminar organised by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and the Norwegian Trade Council here today, Mr. Stoltenberg invited software professionals from India to Norway, but said his country would concentrate more on outsourcing software technology work.

Addressing the seminar earlier, the Norwegian premier called India one of the fastest growing economies in the world and said information technology should help bridge the distance between the two countries. Norwegian companies were keen on developing trade relations with India and exploring new opportunities, primarily in the IT sector, he said.

The extensive use of software in Norway had led his Government to launch an "e-norway" plan which intended to increase the value of output and efficiency in the public sector and accelerate the use of information technology. This plan was reviewed every six months and updated accordingly, he said.

Mr. R.V. Deshpande, Minister for Large- and Medium-scale Industries, said there was a lot of scope for co-operation between India and Norway in the areas of outsourcing software development services, offshore development, e-commerce and Internet services, and having strategic alliances and joint ventures.

He said Bangalore today had around 928 IT companies compared to 13 in 1991-92, and several more in biotechnology and other sectors. Software exports to the U.S. had grown from $4 million in 1991-92 to $2 billion in 2000-2001. IT exports to Norway, now around $10 million, was expected to grow to $100 million in 2004 and $250 million in 2008.

Mr. Som Mittal, member, NASSCOM Executive Council, said the association would work closely with ICT, it's counterpart in Norway to improve trade relations between the two countries. Indian IT trade with European countries presently accounted for 23.5 per cent of Indian software exports and it had seen an increase of 63 per cent this year compared to last year.

Around 30 Norwegian ICT companies are participating in the business meet.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Awards for KHB, RGRHC and Nirmiti Kendra
Next     : 3 IAF personnel 'assault' auto driver; one
           arrested