Industry leaders converge at fifth Hi-Tech Pune

The 'Fifth Hi-Tech Pune Maharashtra', an IT and BT conferences was recently
inaugurated in Pune by Chief Guest Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of
State-Communications and IT, Government of India and was presided by Ashok
Chavan, Minister for Industries, Government of Maharashtra.

The two-day conference theme was 'innovation led inclusive growth examines
the challenge of transfor-ming scientific innovation into commercial success.'

A total of 12 sessions were held, with more than 65 speakers sharing about
the new facets of the industry like infrastructure, innovation and technology.

Welcoming the dignitaries and delegates, Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Chairman,
Pune Vyaspeeth said, "We've received tremendous response to Hi-Tech Pune. Due to
the IT, BT and gaming industry, nearly 2 lakh new jobs are being generated in
the city. Pune is fast becoming the global destination for investments, which
has lead to its fast paced growth."

The 'Lifetime Achieve-ment Awards' were presented by Scindia to NR Narayana
Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies and Dr KI Varaprasad
Reddy, MD, Shantha Biotechnics for their contributions to the IT and BT industry
and the society at large.

Scindia said, "Pune is the cradle of innovation and I am very pleased to be a
part of fifth Hi-Tech IT and BT conference where both IT and BT sectors have
come together to accelerate and enable Pune's growth in a balanced manner."

(R-L) Ashok Chavan, Minister for Industries, Government of Maharashtra; Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Chairman, Pune Vyaspeeth and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State-Communications and IT, Government of India conferring lifetime achievement award to Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies	(L-R) Scindia; Kalmadi; and Chavan giving the lifetime achievement award to Dr KI Varaprasad Reddy, MD, Shantha Biotechnics

William A Haseltine, PhD, Global Health and President, Haseltine Foundation
for Medical Sciences and The Arts, USA; Dr Fabio Rugge, Consul General of Italy
in Mumbai and Vicki Treadell, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mumbai were the
Guests of Honor for the conference.

The conference was an initiative by Pune Vyaspeeth and was co-hosted by
Government of Maharashtra along with partners-Maharashtra Industrial Development
Corp (MIDC), Maratha Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA),
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR), University of Pune (UoP), Magarpatta City, TCG Real Estate,
Nihilent Technologies, Dassault System, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, Bhartiya
Vidyapeeth, DLF, CDDC, Panchshil, Suma Soft, Air India, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia,
Indira Group of Institutes, Paranjape Scheme, Goel Ganga Group, Pinach, Praj
Industries and Ubics Software.