The Hindu : Business : Pakistan keen on tie-ups with software firms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Business

Business

Pakistan keen on tie-ups with software firms

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 15. A delegation from the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) today visited Infosys, Mindtree Consulting, Mphasis and vMoksha Technologies and expressed eagerness to have tie-ups with Indian software companies to tap markets across the border. Pakistan is targeting software exports to reach $500 million this year.

The leader of the delegation, Jehan Ara, said the exchange of visits and tie-ups augured well for the relations between the two countries. The delegation, which met Infosys Mentor, Narayana Murthy, has extended an invitation to him to visit Pakistan.

Talking about the software industry in Pakistan, she mentioned that it was growing between 50 and 100 per cent annually. The two countries, she added, could compete as well as work jointly to bag projects worldwide. The efforts would have long-term benefits and hoped that visa rules would be relaxed to help further the cause of both the economies. The markets of West Asia, the U.S. and Europe were there to be tapped and India and Pakistan had a vast pool of human resources in banking, ERP in textiles, oil and gas and telecom sectors. She mentioned that the cost of operations in Pakistan was much cheaper than India and that an entry-level programmer earned about Pakistani Rs. 15,000.

Mention was made about the tie-up between i-flex Solutions and Pakistan-based Emmaculate Solutions for financial software for the banking industry in Pakistan.

Another tie-up was between the Karachi-based Arwen Tech Pvt. Ltd and the Delhi-based Evolve Services, to jointly bid for $1 million contract to train students to work at call centres in Pakistan. The tenders will be finalised by the end of the month, according to Atiq Rehman, Chief Executive Officer of Arwen Tech.

Mr. Rehman also mentioned that Arwen was working with Hewitt India to evolve IT strategy and resources for the Pakistan and Sind governments.

"If we get through this project, we will form a joint venture for implementing it and more professionals from India can work in Pakistan for up to six months.''

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