Kerala - Kochi   

Slowdown is an opportunity: Infosys chief

KOCHI: The economic downturn provides a great opportunity for India to lead the way in developing clean technologies to check climate change, Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO and managing director of Infosys, has said.

Delivering the Rajagiri Excellence in Leadership Lecture at the Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology at Kakkanad near here on Monday, he said India has the opportunity to do the right things when it comes to environment while many developed countries were now trying to right the past wrongs. He said the economic crisis offered India the opportunity to create products and services that better suited the environment.

Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the smart thing to do during the period was to assess one’s strengths and look for ways to emerge stronger out of this crisis.

He said India was still growing at 7 per cent while many of the economies were registering negative growth.

India has a demographic advantage over other countries since the majority of its population was less than 35 years old. He, however, warned that this advantage would turn into a demographic disaster if its youths were not imparted proper education and knowledge.

The IT pioneer asked the student community to look at the crisis as a wonderful experience to live through a recession and to be a part of developing ways to resolve it. He regarded the present crisis as one similar to the great depression of 1930s or even worse. “You are witnessing a scenario that will be discussed in papers, magazines, and textbooks for the next 50 to 100 years,” he said.

He said the young generation was fortunate to live at a time when the perception about India has changed among the world community. The India of today is being regarded as an economic heavyweight that offers huge opportunities.

Jose Alex, director, Rajagiri group of institutions, presided. Joseph I. Injody, welcomed the gathering, and J. Isaac proposed a vote of thanks.

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

Stories in this Section

Infosys will honour job offers: CEO
Taking counsel from a role model
Reincarnating traditional art
Truck drivers call off strike
Kakkoor cattle race banned
Judge recuses himself from hearing appeal
Management training for revenue officials
Modern bikes for City Police
Breach found in rail, trains delayed
New park thrown open
Slowdown is an opportunity: Infosys chief
Women scientists hold get-together
‘Yathra’ a success, says BJP
BSP to organise campaign in district
Meeting convened
Move to privatise shipyard alleged
‘Good response to walkathon’
Kochi Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu