INDIA is set to expand its bilateral trade
agreement estimated at over $46 billion with Nigeria and other African countries, as more
than 20 Indian Information Technology companies will be in the country on
Monday to deliberate on further areas of investment in the yearly Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) and
National Association of Computer and Software Companies of India, (NASSCOM)
Business Summit tagged ‘ITAN CEO-NASSCOM 2012 summit.’
Indeed, the
Indian government has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into
African initiatives and training focusing on ICT; the government total pledge
for all economic and trade activities for the entire continent is in excess
of $5 billion line of credit, according to the Indian High
commission in Nigeria.
The meeting,
according to ITAN in Lagos on Tuesday, will be a significant identification
with Nigeria’s government transformational agenda for the ICT sector and the
association’s new stance to build international partnership to grow the local
industry.
Already,
the both ITAN and NASSCOM enjoy international business and professional
membership of Nigeria and India by their respective country representation at
the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).
NASSCOM is
the premier trade body and the “Chamber of Commerce” for the IT – BPO industry
in India and ITAN is the premier trade industry group for ICT companies in
Nigeria.
ITAN said
this year’s theme is “Empowering and Resuscitating Local IT Entrepreneurs via
Local Content Development and Funding.”
According to
the president of ITAN, Mrs. Florence
Seriki, “The objective of the
yearly event, which also serve as a statement of need is to sustain the
creation of a platform for local ICT organizations to synergise and collaborate
among key international ICT players and indeed our goal to bridge these gaps in
competitive capacity development of the local enterprises, by also creating
education opportunities, influencing policy formulations in information
communication technologies development, promotion and enhancement of the
Nigerian ICT industry with other relevant stakeholders.
“The
Local ICT companies currently deserve a lot of private and public sector
support in terms of increasing their demand for goods and services supplied, and
engendering adequate partnership to promoting local content.”
Seriki
disclosed that India and Nigeria currently enjoy very healthy diplomatic
relations, adding that there was an increasing economic and trade relationship
between the two countries. She said Indian software and several ICT companies
have very strong presence in Nigeria.
The ITAN
president informed that Minister for Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola
Johnson would be the special guest of honour while key speakers at the forum
includes, President of NASSCOM, India. Mr. Som Mittal
and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry Nigeria, Mrs. Evelyn Oputu.
“The
ITAN, NASCOM CEOs forum offers a strong plank for industry leaders of the two
countries to explore ways of mutually growing businesses particularly as it
concerns the ICT sector”, Seriki stated.
The Guardian Nigeria