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Our plans stand, we are in for the long haul- Microsoft: The Indian Express
New Delhi, Pune, May 12: The CEO of Cyberabad may be out of a job, but in a signal that the big boys of software do not depend on an individual, almost all the players based in Hyderabad said Naidu`s exit would not change a thing.
New Delhi, Pune, May 12: The CEO of Cyberabad may be out of a job, but in a signal that the big boys of software do not depend on an individual, almost all the players based in Hyderabad said Naidu’s exit would not change a thing.
Well, just a little bit perhaps. Most of the software giants enjoyed a good relationship with Chandrababu Naidu and expect just a couple of awkward months while the new government settles in. Otherwise, it is all systems go.
‘‘Once the new CM is in place, we will introduce ourselves and hope to take the relationship forward,’’ said Ravi Venkatesan, chairman of Microsoft India, which has a development centre in Hyderabad. ‘‘Our investment plans stand. We are in it for the long haul.’’
Most players, while giving credit to Naidu for pioneering the IT revolution in the state, agreed that he had done such a competent job — and Hyderabad’s industry had matured to such an extent — that his absence would not matter at all.
Invensys, a 5 billion-pound technology major, is sticking to plans to move into a lavish new office in Hyderabad later this year.
‘‘We’re going to move to a 45,000 sq ft new facility, regardless of the government change,’’ says Aniruddha Dasu, general manager, Invensys’ India Development Centre (IDC).
In 2003, the company plowed $2.5 mn into Hyderabad and said they would double headcount over 2003-04. ‘‘All existing committments are being met and we’re expanding, despite apprehensions about the new government’s policies,’’ said Dasu.
Wipro, which recently joined the billion-dollar club, was also sanguine about the change. ‘‘We hope the new government will not be so stupid as to change the good policies of the Naidu government,’’ said its spokesman.
But there still are nagging doubts — power reforms, Congress style, for instance. ‘‘Reforms are past their infancy and cannot be reversed so easily, there are uncertaininties that schemes like free power to farmers will affect industry,’’ said Savita Mahajan, Assistant Dean of Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB).
Even IT consultants Yash Technologies, among the top 100 fastest growing private companies in the United States (US), has decided to wait out the next few weeks of ‘‘uncertainity’’ until things ‘‘settle down.’’
‘‘There may be uncertainity, but Hyderabad has grown beyond the point when every change brings radical policy shifts,’’ said YT general manager, Vinod Samantula.
Nandan Nilekani, president of Infosys, shared the sentiment. ‘‘Any pro-devlopment government will be able to sustain the economic progress the region has seen,’’ he said.
Jairam Ramesh, secretary of the Congress’ Economic Cell said that the software sector would continue to be a priority for the Congress though the party would also focus on the agriculture sector.
And he told the industry not to underestimate Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who is expected to succeed Naidu. ‘‘Mr Reddy is an MBBS graduate. So, he is a professional,’’ said Ramesh. ‘‘Two, he speaks better English. And three, he is better networked than Mr Naidu.’’
‘‘Once the new CM is in place, we will introduce ourselves and hope to take the relationship forward,’’ said Ravi Venkatesan, chairman of Microsoft India, which has a development centre in Hyderabad. ‘‘Our investment plans stand. We are in it for the long haul.’’
Most players, while giving credit to Naidu for pioneering the IT revolution in the state, agreed that he had done such a competent job — and Hyderabad’s industry had matured to such an extent — that his absence would not matter at all.
Invensys, a 5 billion-pound technology major, is sticking to plans to move into a lavish new office in Hyderabad later this year.
‘‘We’re going to move to a 45,000 sq ft new facility, regardless of the government change,’’ says Aniruddha Dasu, general manager, Invensys’ India Development Centre (IDC).
In 2003, the company plowed $2.5 mn into Hyderabad and said they would double headcount over 2003-04. ‘‘All existing committments are being met and we’re expanding, despite apprehensions about the new government’s policies,’’ said Dasu.
Wipro, which recently joined the billion-dollar club, was also sanguine about the change. ‘‘We hope the new government will not be so stupid as to change the good policies of the Naidu government,’’ said its spokesman.
But there still are nagging doubts — power reforms, Congress style, for instance. ‘‘Reforms are past their infancy and cannot be reversed so easily, there are uncertaininties that schemes like free power to farmers will affect industry,’’ said Savita Mahajan, Assistant Dean of Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB).
Even IT consultants Yash Technologies, among the top 100 fastest growing private companies in the United States (US), has decided to wait out the next few weeks of ‘‘uncertainity’’ until things ‘‘settle down.’’
‘‘There may be uncertainity, but Hyderabad has grown beyond the point when every change brings radical policy shifts,’’ said YT general manager, Vinod Samantula.
Nandan Nilekani, president of Infosys, shared the sentiment. ‘‘Any pro-devlopment government will be able to sustain the economic progress the region has seen,’’ he said.
Jairam Ramesh, secretary of the Congress’ Economic Cell said that the software sector would continue to be a priority for the Congress though the party would also focus on the agriculture sector.
And he told the industry not to underestimate Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who is expected to succeed Naidu. ‘‘Mr Reddy is an MBBS graduate. So, he is a professional,’’ said Ramesh. ‘‘Two, he speaks better English. And three, he is better networked than Mr Naidu.’’