Pakistan IT keen to set up shop in India

Mumbai: Fourteen Pakistan-based IT companies are making a beeline to set up shop in India. Interestingly, this move has been prompted by customers who are wary of the country’s image and political scenario in Pakistan, according to Ms Jehan Ara, President of Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), which plays a role similar to the Indian industry body Nasscom, in Pakistan. “Many overseas clients have requested Pakistan based-IT firms to have alternate data centers in nearby regions that have a stable operating environment. Given the geographical and cultural proximity, India fills the bill perfectly,” added Ms Ara. Interestingly about 3-4 Pakistan-based IT firms have already set up offices in Bangalore. Some of them are Karachi-based Systems Ltd and the NYSE listed-Netsol Technologies. They operate in India through wholly owned subsidiaries, based overseas. “This number is set to increase and many Pakistani companies are showing interest in coming to India,” added Ms Ara. There are about 200 registered IT companies in Pakistan. Even as core application development and maintenance work will be done from centres in Pakistan, centres in India will primarily be their data storage hubs and also help in providing value-added services, analysts estimate. Dubai and China are the other regions where similar arrangements have been established. With the IT industry maturing in Pakistan, more and more technology firms will also look at leveraging the expertise and talent pool available in India. The IT industry in Pakistan, though in the early stages, is bustling with activity. The ICT market there is worth $3 billion. Source: Hindu Business Line

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