Sachin Pilot likely to attend E-revolution

Union Minister of State for Communications and Technology Sachin Pilot is likely to attend the latest edition of E-revolution, the annual software jamboree organised jointly by the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The two-day event is scheduled to be held on the September 3 and 4.

Talking to Newsline, a spokesperson of the organising committee said: "We are in touch with Sachin Pilot and he may attend a session on September 4. We also have confirmations from several notable entrepreneurs, including Sunil Munjal of Hero Cycles, Rakesh Mittal of Bharti group and Som Mittal of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

Though this is the fourth edition of this annual conclave, the region hasn't received any significant investment boost in the technology sector.

While Chandigarh has had some companies setting up base in the city after inauguration of the Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park in 2005, Punjab's record is dismal, with no major new-age company having announced its investment plans for the region.

In contrast, investment in Haryana has been impressive but it has been limited to Gurgaon, owing to the region's proximity to New Delhi.

But the organisers maintain that the positive results would start showing soon. "You have to build the right culture. A Wipro or a Nokia would not plan its investment in a day. The right environment and infrastructure has to be built gradually. We are certainly moving in the right direction. One indication is the start-up firms. The IT park was set up barely three years ago, but we have had so many new start-ups which have made their mark."

As a precursor to the IT conclave, the UT Administration organised a contest for start-up units. Around twelve different teams of entrepreneurs, keen to set up their business in the IT park have submitted their business plans. The ones with the best idea would be declared winners during the E-revolution function and would be entitled to land at subsidised rates in the IT Park, besides funding from venture capitalists.