Brief Note on the 49th India IT Club Meeting held at Okinawa on March 30th 2009
Brief Note on the 49th India IT Club Meeting held at Okinawa on March 30th 2009:
Compiled by: Mr. Harsh Obrai (Director, India IT Club, Japan)
1. Meeting held on : March 30th, 2009.
2. Place : Okinawa, Naha-city, Okinawa Industry Support Center 1F Hall.
3. Time : 14:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs.
4. Local Arrangements at Okinawa made by Okinawa-India Friendship Association. Contact person Mr. Mori Masahito.
5. Attendance: about 75 persons from Local Industry.
6. Chief Guest: Mr Nakada Hidemitsu, Director General, Department of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Okinawa Prefecture Government.
7. Indian side represented by :
- Mr. R. Ramanujam, Minister (Economic and Commercial), Embassy of India, Tokyo.
- Mr. APS Mani, President, India IT Club.
- Mr. Harsh Obrai, Director, India IT Club.
- Mr. Stewart Azuma, Wipro Japan.
Okinawa Prefectural Government is developing an IT-Park in Okinawa. To attract Foreign Companies, Okinawa Prefecture is extending Special Benefits like Corporate Tax concessions, Subsidy towards Communication Costs etc.
Okinawa is aware of the huge success of STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) promoted by the Government in last decade in promoting the rapid growth of IT Industry in India.
With a view to learning from the Indian experience, they wished to hear about STPI Scheme and how the Indian IT expertise could be tapped to promote the growth of this sector in Okinawa.
9. Mr. Ramanujam, Minister Economic and Commercial, apprised the participants of the latest developments in the India growth story as well as the India-Japan Economic relations and highlighted the scope for cooperation in the IT sector for mutual benefit. He pointed out that inspite of the Global Financial Crisis, India’s GDP was expected to see a growth of 6.5-7.0% in 2008-09 and a similar growth next year also. India has been largest recipient of ODA for the last 6 years. The infrastructure sector offered huge opportunities for Japan as Japanese investments in India in this sector will generate necessary demand for its exports on the short run and yield impressive returns over time thus improving its balance of trade and current account. It would be in Japan’s interests to expedite the two flagship projects viz., the DFC and the DMIC and conclude the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement at the earliest. India is regarded as the best outsourcing/offshoring destination for IT and ITES and Indian companies in Japan are in a position to offer top class services. Japanese companies need to take advantage of the efficiency gains and greater competitiveness that IT and ITES could provide in order to improve their productivity. He offered to facilitate the visit of a high level study team from Okinawa to some of India’s STPIs to learn first hand the issues that arise when such Parks are set up and how they could be addressed.
10. Mr. Harsh Obrai made a presentation on the background of India STPI’s and how they help Indian Software Exports, support SMEs, balanced Regional Development and create employment opportunities in second-level Cities.
This presentation has been uploaded on India IT Club website in the Downloads section.
11. Mr. Stewart Azuma , Wipro Japan made a presentation on Wipro’s Business Model and what an Indian IT Company will expect from Local Government if they were to set-up an operation in Okinawa.
12. Mr. Inagaki Jun-ichi, President of KBC E-bussiness College in Okinawa conducted the very-interesting and interactive Q/A session.
13. Mr. Mani, presented a Vote of Thanks to Local Government of Okinawa for inviting the Indian team to conduct an Indian IT Seminar. He also thanked Mr. Mori Masahito of Okinawa-India Friendship Association for making all the local arrangements for this Seminar.