Avenues Galore for IT Cos to Explore US Markets: Council

The Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council on Monday said there was an
opportunity for information technology (IT) companies in India to tap unexplored markets in the United States.

Past chairman of the council and chairman of Indiasoft Steering Committee Nalin Kohli said 65 per cent of India's software exports were to North America and Canada and there as still an opportunity to tap the unexplored markets in the US.

"Georgia (USA) has been identified (to tap the opportunity available). We are doing a roadshow in Georgia. If that happens, a large chunk of small IT companies may start talking to their counterparts in the United States," he told PTI on the sidelines of an event here.

Noting that big IT companies in the US set up subsidiary in India through partnerships, he said smaller
companies too were looking for suitable tie-ups to set up base in India.

"So, they look at India as a huge market", he said.

According to him, 65 per cent of India's software exports go to North America, Canada, 25 per cent to Europe and remaining to other parts of the globe.

Council executive director DK Sareen said 'Internet of Things' (IoT) can become a 'game-changer' for India. By 2020-end, nearly 1.9 billion devices were expected to be connected from the current base of 60 billion under IoT, he said.

Kohli and senior officials of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council were here to
announce the 20th edition of INDIASOFT,the flagship IT event of the council.

Around 250 Indian IT companies were expected to participate in the event to be held between March 3 and 4 in Hyderabad, in which around 400 delegates from overseas were expected.

Another event GLOBALSOFT 2020 wherein over 50 foreign IT majors would also take part in the two-day event showcasing their products and solutions to buyers from India and the global markets, he said.

NASSCOM to slash membership fees to 1/3rd for SMEs & Startups

Nasscom, the IT industry body has planned to slash its membership fees in order to become more inclusive and easily accessible to smaller firms that have the talent and potential to become the next big thing.

The IT industry body which boosts of IT service heavy weights like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Service as its members has plans of reaching out to the smaller firms by slashing its membership fees to about a third of the current rates prevailing for the early stage firms. They even plan to shower these small firms with a host of benefits.  This could also result in the bringing of product companies with just a prototype and limited or zero revenue into its fold for the very first time.

According to Ravi Gururaj, chairman of a Nasscom council, the benefits that these small firms will receive by associating themselves with Nasscom will help them lighten the membership cost and even allow the product companies to be part of the IT body.

The membership fee for regular members in Nasscom is based on the gross IT-BPM revenues of the previous fiscal year and as far as start-ups are concerned, the subscription is based on the estimated turnover of the current fiscal year. In addition to the subscription fee, there is an annual Newsletter and mailer charges of Rs.4800 which needs to be paid.

Currently, a company with a Rs.10,000 crore plus turnover needs to pay an annual subscription fees of Rs.60 lakh to be a part of the IT body and the companies with a turnover of less than Rs.1 crore are required to shell out Rs. 15,000 for the subscription.

Nasscom is also planning on playing an enabling role in new areas such as mobile and products and Internet.

This step taken by the IT body will help the smaller companies who always wanted to join Nasscom but couldn't because of the cost factor. Earlier these companies preferred in spending whatever little money which they had on marketing or product development rather than using it for the subscription fee.  The reduced membership will let these small firms reap in all the benefits of Nasscom’s events and networking and also give them a taste of what an ecosystem can do for them.

NASSCOM to slash membership fees to 1/3rd for SMEs & Startups

Nasscom, the IT industry body has planned to slash its membership fees in order to become more inclusive and easily accessible to smaller firms that have the talent and potential to become the next big thing.

The IT industry body which boosts of IT service heavy weights like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Service as its members has plans of reaching out to the smaller firms by slashing its membership fees to about a third of the current rates prevailing for the early stage firms. They even plan to shower these small firms with a host of benefits.  This could also result in the bringing of product companies with just a prototype and limited or zero revenue into its fold for the very first time.

According to Ravi Gururaj, chairman of a Nasscom council, the benefits that these small firms will receive by associating themselves with Nasscom will help them lighten the membership cost and even allow the product companies to be part of the IT body.

The membership fee for regular members in Nasscom is based on the gross IT-BPM revenues of the previous fiscal year and as far as start-ups are concerned, the subscription is based on the estimated turnover of the current fiscal year. In addition to the subscription fee, there is an annual Newsletter and mailer charges of Rs.4800 which needs to be paid.

Currently, a company with a Rs.10,000 crore plus turnover needs to pay an annual subscription fees of Rs.60 lakh to be a part of the IT body and the companies with a turnover of less than Rs.1 crore are required to shell out Rs. 15,000 for the subscription.

Nasscom is also planning on playing an enabling role in new areas such as mobile and products and Internet.

This step taken by the IT body will help the smaller companies who always wanted to join Nasscom but couldn't because of the cost factor. Earlier these companies preferred in spending whatever little money which they had on marketing or product development rather than using it for the subscription fee.  The reduced membership will let these small firms reap in all the benefits of Nasscom’s events and networking and also give them a taste of what an ecosystem can do for them.