Click here to read Harris Miller's speech made at Bangalore

indiamarkets: Can you tell us about the activities of ITAA?
Miller: ITAA was founded in 1961. We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary. ITAA has 26,000 member companies. We have all types of companies – big players like IBM, Microsoft, AOL, Time Warner and also many start-ups. ITAA is involved in formulating all aspects of public policy issues related to IT at Washington DC. It also works internationally with organisations such as Nasscom and CII here in India. ITAA is also involved in educating its members on current market trends and provide them networking opportunities in order to compete with other IT companies. We help them in finding different kinds of customers – government, retail marketplace, financial and services marketplace and telecom marketplace.

indiamarkets: Dewang Mehta has been closely associated with you. How different is Nasscom from ITAA?
Miller: There are many similarities between both the associations. Nasscom has export promotion heading its agenda. We do some of that, but are not as focussed on it as Dewang’s association. This is probably the major difference between both the associations.

Within the ITAA, there are larger organisations and older organisations, because IT industry in the US is much older and larger. But in many ways it is similar - in terms of interaction with the government and member companies and in conducting studies/ research.

indiamarkets: What steps is ITAA taking in order to reduce the impact of US slowdown on developing countries?
Miller: It is not on ITAA’s agenda to do that. All we can do is share information and give an honest assessment of the situation in US, as I tried doing today. There is no need for countries like India to be too negative on the current scenario. This is just a short-term impact. One should look at the long-term picture.

indiamarkets: What, according to you, are the steps that Nasscom should be taking to minimise the impact of US slowdown on India?
Miller: Nasscom has already planned road shows in the US. This is the right thing to do. Dewang can also make sure that his members get an honest assessment of what is happening in the US economy so that member companies do not have unrealistic expectations. Member companies should understand that the situation is going to change and is already changing - as I indicated in my talk today.

indiamarkets: Has your trip to India been sponsored just to bring in confidence among the IT companies here in India?
Miller: Satyam wanted me to get a first hand view of the growing IT industry in India. I have heard and read a lot about the Indian IT industry, but it is quite different when you see it. My trip to India was planned about six months back. That was when the US slowdown began. It was only when I came closer to the event, I realized that people wanted to know on what’s happening in the US and its impact on Indian operations.

indiamarkets: You are also the President of World Information Technology and Services Alliance. Can you elaborate on this?
Miller: World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is an association of associations. ITAA plus Nasscom along with 39 other associations of other countries are members of this association. Currently, ITAA is the secretariat of WITSA. Every year, we hold a major international meeting. Last September, it was held in Capetown, South Africa. Next year, it will be held in Adelaide, Australia. We also do various studies and   create networking opportunities for companies who are looking to make introduction around the world.

WITSA was formed in 1978. It was pretty static until I took over in 1995 as its -president. The number of members, which was 22 earlier, now stands at 39. We are now focusing on building relations with developing countries.

Nasscom has been a member of WITSA for a very long time.
 

The interviewer can be contacted at pradeep@indiamarkets.com