December 17, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 12, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: Pakistan and China on Monday agreed to enhance cooperation in various areas of IT industry and to start some joint ventures in software development, setting up of IT Parks, IT enabled services including call centres, online accountancy and web development services.

The decisions to this effect were made at a meeting held here between ministry of IT and telecommunication and the nine-member visiting delega-tion of Chinese Software Industry Association (CSIA) led by Chen Chong, president, China Software Industry Association.

It has been agreed that Pakistan and China will forge alliances to tap international market. It has also been agreed that for capturing the international market, the two countries will benefit from each others experiences and both the countries will use each other‘s skills and strengths to achieve the objective.

Pakistan and China have also agreed to initiate some joint research and development projects in the information technology, exchange of professionals and transfer of technology and expertise. It has also been decided that in various projects Pakistani and Chinese IT companies will be encouraged to enter mergers and cooperate to enhance exports and compe-te with other leading soft-ware exporting nations in the region.

China having a better experience in IT industry will assist and guide Pakistan for tapping the international IT market. The two countries will forge alliances for the purpose. In this context Pakistan will provide good English speaking skills, marketing expertise, exposure and presence in Western and Middle Eastern IT markets.

Pakistan side was lead by federal minister for IT and telecommunications Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and other senior officers of the ministry were also present on the occasion.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the establishment of Beijing telecommunication university in Pakistan and decided to expedite the work on the project.

Under the proposal the land will be provided by the Pakistan government and the technical expertise and laboratories will be provided by the Chinese government. The Chinese government has submitted an MoU for the project.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Leghari said that Pakistan and China enjoyed long history of friendship and diplomatic relations.

“By having a strong collaboration in IT field, we will take our relationships to new frontiers”, said Mr Leghari.

He said Pakistan offered numerous benefits to international companies outsourcing IT and telecommunication projects.

These benefits include low-cost readily available trained manpower, lowest bandwidth costs in the region, software technology Parks wired with state-of-the art fibre-optic connectivity and a fast-growing IT-enabled services sector which include call centres, remote data, online accountancy and web development services.

Chen Chong said China was attaching great importance to cooperation in IT and the visit by the CSIA delegation was a big event for Chinese ministry of information technology.

He said the Chinese software companies visiting Pakistan, were impressed by the government policies, and were planning to start joint collaboration projects.

Some Chinese companies have expressed the desire to hire professionals from Pakistan.

Pakistan Software Export Board and CSIA will play the role of bridges for cooperation in both countries software industries.