Sikkim dealers eagerly await Sikitex 2011

Keeping in tune with its last year's

success, Sikitex 2011 is all set to create the magic again for Sikkim

and North Bengal with the local dealers feeling optimistic about the

success of the 2-day event. Designed on the lines of IT conclave,

clubbed with expo stalls, the mascot 'Donka ePanda' has been

selected by the government to provide market exposure to various IT

companies and enable them to set up business in Sikkim.

“With rapid modernization taking

place in the state, there is an immense demand for new technologies

both in the government as well as in private sector,” the circular

issued by the state government stated last year. However, this year,

the government has not issued any circular either for potential

sponsors or the participants so far. With massive upscaling taking

place in the state-forming 40 community information centers across

the remotest of regions in Sikkim, and all government departments in

the state capital in the process of being networked through optical

fiber and RF, the state is striving to reduce the 'digital divide',

besides its plans for introducing MIS and DSS in the government

space.

eGovernance too, is atop the state

agenda. It is in this backdrop that dealers in the state are counting

on the government to help in developing the private sector, namely

the SMB, and boost the IT scenario including channel sales. “I will

be participating in Sikitex in association with Ricoh and am optimist

about the way this event has been conducted since 2009,” said

Satish Agarwal of Gangtok-based Nitesh Technologies. Also,

Tadong-based Bright Computers is pinning its hope for participating

in the expo alongwith Lenovo. “As of now, the government has not

issued any circular about participation in Sikitex to the channels.

But things move fast here and whenever I get the proposal, I am keen

to participate in it with Lenovo,” said Arun Kumar Singh of Bright

Computers. With the channel partners across the state feeling

positive about reaping at least 10% higher margins on account of

Sikitex, nearly all the potential participants (channel partners) are

associating with the mainstream vendors for putting up stalls.

However, it needs to be noticed that there is no directive by the

state government in regard to exclusive channel participation. Non-IT

dealers too are enthusiastic about Sikitex. “I deal with the

peripheral business and office automation and stationery products.

This time, I will visit the conclave and the stalls to find if

peripherals (nonmainstream IT) and related office products can find a

place in next year's Sikitex,” said Jeevan Bajoria of Punam Sales

& Stationery.