Tamil Nadu   

"Japan considering India's plea for help"

Staff Reporter

In setting up a National Gigabit Backbone Network

TOP PRIORITY: Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran handing over a proposal for assistance for the National Gigabit Backbone Network to Japan's Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication Yoshihide Suga at a m eeting in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: S.S. Kumar

CHENNAI: Japan is positively considering India's proposal, seeking assistance in setting up a National Gigabit Backbone Network.

"We are working together to ensure a fruitful result," said Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, after a meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Yoshihide Suga, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication.

During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan last month, a request had been made for Japanese funding under the Overseas Development Assistance Scheme.

The Rs.1500-crore project will be carried out by the National Informatics Centre's nationwide ICT network, NICNET.

"The project will link India's villages with a fibre optic network," said Mr. Maran, handing over the NIC's draft proposal to the Japanese Minister. Both Governments are working to ensure that the project gets top priority, he said.

The delegation also reviewed the progress made on carrying forward the objectives of the Indo-Japan ICT Forum. Mr. Maran will attend the next meeting of the Forum to be held in Japan within the next six months.

The Japanese delegation consisted of senior government officials as well as representatives of Japan's top mobile phone operators NTT DoCoMo and KDDI.

A government official said the mobile company representatives shared their expertise in 3G wireless technology.

The delegation was also given a presentation showcasing investment opportunities in Tamil Nadu and the Japanese Minister promised to carry reports of the state's potential to Japanese companies.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Project proposals feasible, says Velu
He is intensely passionate about animals
Direct recruits vis-a-vis promotee officers
"Japan considering India's plea for help"
Jayalalithaa has no locus standi to demand resignation: Karunanidhi
Safety measures
Green gathering
Allow States to fix quota, says Vaiko
Keep healthcare costs low, says Anbumani
Briefly

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu