Addressing software developers in Bangalore, Gates, on his maiden visit to the city, said two-three years back, if companies decided to do their mission critical work in India, it was then considered to involve enormous risk but that is not the case any more.
Gates said in the last couple of years, Indian companies such as NASDAQ-listed Infosys Technologies Limited had built a worldwide reputation and earned a name for delivering quality work on schedule.
In the next few years, he predicted, firms in the US and Europe would be sure to insist that Indian companies be considered for doing all mission critical work.
Gates said he was optimistic that India would be able to sustain its phenomenal growth in software and added he was deeply impressed by the quality of education system in this country and the investment being made in the sector.
Later in a brief interaction with reporters, he said respect for intellectual property was an important element for driving the growth of software sector in India, both in services and emerging software product areas.
In the address to the developers, numbering around 2,500, at the event organised by NASSCOM and Microsoft at the Infosys Campus, Gates outlined his vision of a world of XML Web Services and shared his views on developing applications for the 'Digital Decade' (2000-09).
"Software is a magic. Working in software is the most exciting business in this world", he remarked.
NASSCOM President Kiran Karnik said India currently had a base of 400,000 software developers, a number, which is projected to grow to 13 lakh (1.3 million) in four years.
Published for public intrest by Association of Computer Technologists in India.(ACT India).
http://project.takingitglobal.org/actindia
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