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TIOL-DDT 337 · Wednesday, 5 April 2006 · story 1 of 3

WCO conference in Bangalore 6 -8 April 2006

By Vijay Kumar

Outsourcing and off-shoring of IT - A challenge for Customs

A mega event is unfolding in Bangalore tomorrow, the WCO IT conference and exhibition. The conference aims to

  • discuss the latest developments in information and communication technology (ICT) for Customs.

  • explore all aspects relating to outsourcing and off-shoring and identify opportunities and challenges for the management of Customs IT.

  • examine the relationship between outsourcing and public-private partnerships (PPP).

  • provide an ideal ICT-focused networking platform for Customs Officials and the private sector.

  • afford an opportunity to industry and Customs experts to discuss practical steps for the implementation and application of IT best practices.

Bangalore's Taj Hotel is gearing up to host this great event which will be addressed by

Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram
Mr Michel Danet, Secretary General, WCO
Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. H D Kumaraswamy
Mr Pravin Gordhan Commissioner SARS and Chairman WCO Council
Mr. Narayana Murthy, Chairman INFOSYS
Mr. Azim Premji, Chairman WIPRO
Mr. Kiran Karnik, President NASSCOM

Revenue Secretary Mr. K .M Chandrasekhar is to welcome the elite gathering and Mr M.Jayaraman Chairman CBEC will propose vote of thanks.

The programme includes key note addresses on

  • Can Confluence of Ideas Catalyse Innovation? By Dr Shoumen Palit Austin Datta, MIT

  • Sense & Response - Process & Strategies in Outsourcing

  • Globalization and its Benefits – Legal Questions & Outsourcing - Mr.V.Sridhar Director General (Systems),Central Board of Excise & Customs, India is a speaker.

  • Successful Outsourcing? Technical, Financial and HR Drivers

The conference has on the last day an address by Sir Clive Granger, Nobel Prize in Economics 2003, University of California, San Diego on Advances in Forecasting.

Apart from food for thought, the delegates are sure to have good food to eat as the refreshments and lunches are sponsored by some really big names - IBM, GS1, , LG, Oracle, CBEC and of course WCO.