Emerging markets likely to clock 4-8% growth: Premji

THE 12th edition of the annual information technology meet in Karnataka, Bangalore-IT.Biz, began on a positive note, with industry leaders turning optimistic about domestic as well as global economic outlook.      The three-day meet, inaugurated on Wednesday, is witnessing the participation of around 100 companies and over 800 delegates. Wipro chairman Azim Premji said the western world is likely to see a 1-2% growth with emerging markets clocking 4-8% in 2010.      But he tinged optimism with a word of caution. "However, we cannot be overly optimistic and any assessment we make of the situation, we should have enough caution to be calibrated on that."      The export-focused Indian IT and BPO services, which was largely dependent on developed economies for its revenues, is now increasingly focused on the domestic market. Mr Premji was of the opinion that ICT could bring about technological revolution in India through active involvement of governments.      Speaking on the occasion, Cisco CTO Padmasree Warrior said the company was committed to empowering India and Karnataka with greater access to its next-generation ICT technologies.      State IT & BT minister Katta Subramanya Naidu made a strong pitch for IT investments in Karnataka, especially in the hardware area. "We are ready to provide all necessary help to the hardware industry. Though India has excelled in IT services, it has a long way to go in the hardware industry."      Mr Naidu said the government has begun developing a hardware cluster on a 50 sq km area, around 14 km from the Bangalore International Airport and the land developed would be available in six months.      This year's edition of BangaloreIT.Biz has been a slightly low-key affair with the flood situation in northern Karnataka and overall sentiment of the industry bringing down the scale of the event.      According to Ashok Kumar Manoli, principal secretary of state IT & BT department, the focus on this year's meet has largely been on having seminars and greater interaction among IT professionals.