NASSCOM to hold first international SME Conclave

Kolkata: The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) will be hosting its first flagship Nasscom International SME Conclave (NISC) on January 10 and 11 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to address the two day conclave, which will have the state Information & Technology department as one of its partners. The event will host over 2,500 delegates, with over 200 companies showcasing their products and solutions.

"The NISC is aimed at creating a global platform for the SME companies with an objective of focusing on the importance of 'Connect, Learn & Grow' and helping create synergy between the global SME companies to showcase their skill, expertise and solutions and come out with a platform for collaboration," said Kamal Agarwala, chairman, Nasscom.

Nasscom has partnered with Pricewaterhouse

Coopers (PWC) and IIM

Bangalore for helping it research and identify key challenges of SME companies. PWC will also release a report on the key challenges of SMEs at the event.

Apart from SMEs across the country, foreign SMEs from countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, UAE, Sri Lanka etc. to name a few, have already consented to participating in the conclave. Some African countries have also shown active interest in the event.

More than 100 Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from various sectors like agriculture, healthcare, banking, finance, insurance etc. will attend the two-day event and discuss the opportunities in their respective sectors.

"We have been hosting regional events in the city for the last four years. But this is surely the first time that such an international SME conclave is being hosted in Kolkata," said K Purushothaman, senior director, Nasscom.

There will be 10 country-specific networking sessions, 24 breakaway sessions, more than 15 impromptu topic-specific adda sessions geared towards having result-oriented discussions.

"We need to realise that digital solutions of tomorrow require a visionary approach and this event will help align the energies of the sector to realise its full potential," said Debjani Ghosh, president, Nasscom.