September 20, 2000
The Tribune – Ludhiana

India set to become IT superpower

Who is afraid of the WTO, the global market and competition it will bring in its wake in a few years time?  Certainly not the industry.

The earlier fears that, the Indian industry, which has so far been thriving in a protected market, will be wiped out by the multinationals in the fierce competition in the global markets, have, now been replaced by a slow realisation that it is not such a negative development.  It should be looked at as an opportunity to expand, upgrade and progress for the Indian industry and entrepreneurship to sell its products worldwide.

The Internet and e-commerce has brought the world together like never before.  Distances have ceased to matter.  What is available in New York, London and Paris or for that matter, in any part of the globe, has now become accessible to those in India through the Internet.

India, which is already on its way to become a world IT superpower, should take advantage of position while the Indian industry should seize this opportunity and market its products throughout the world.

These views were expressed by several speakers in a talk with the TNS and also at a function held here last night to inaugurate the Ludhiana e-business centre which is claimed to be India's first business-to-business infomediary. These included Lala Lajpat Rai,. MEP, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr M.M. Vyas, Chairman of the Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, and Mr D.S.Chawla, President, Jammu Colony Small Scale Manufacturers Association and Senior Vice President of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, The infomediary, indiamarkets.com was inaugurated by Lala Lajpat Rai.

'The website is a one stop marketplace, that allows buyers and sellers from within the country and around the world to transact business online. Over 30,000 buyers and suppliers having the ability to trade across 26 industrial segments and 134 product categories are already registered with indiaimarkets.com and are using its unique facilities of intermediation, insight and information to help them make judicious business decisions.

A unique feature of the website is that you can- list your company's products for free.  It brings you news and views specific to your industry.  With incisive and well researched analysis, this function helps you identify the trends, concerns and key success factors affecting business to help you make informed decisions, Throwing light on these aspects are the news room, industry snapshot, state policy, features, face-to-face, budget special and trade fairs facilities.