MITDA organizes IT Fest 2006

CHENNAI

SEPTEMBER 9, 2006

Malabar IT Dealers Association (MITDA) is currently organizing an IT festival
in the region, which is claimed to be well received among the consumers. Called
MITDA-Intel IT Fest 2006, the program is organized to coincide with the festival
season in Kerala and spread over a period of three months, from August.
"The IT Fest would come to a close only on November 1, 2006, with a major
bumper draw on that day. Customers who have purchased IT products during this
season (August - October) from our resellers will be eligible for this lucky
draw, where prizes ranging from laptop to computer; MFD to home theatre speaker
and many more are to be won," said Vinodkumar, President, MITDA.

Vinodkumar and his team of newly-elected office bearers were instrumental in
launching this IT Fest 2006 in Kozhikode, the first-of-its-kind event in Kerala.
"When we got elected for the new term in June 2006, we decided to do
something innovative and exclusive to benefit our resellers. IT event (expo) is
a very common phenomena in the industry today and only who have money to take
stalls (to put products), get benefited out of these shows. So, we decided to go
in for an IT festival like this, where all resellers can participate in this
program," he explained. Now, IT Fest is open for all 120 resellers (who are
registered members of MITDA) in Kozhikode and they are allowed to design their
own promotional schemes in business. "They will continue to sell from their
own shops. And, we allot them some IT Fest coupons (for lucky draw) to give out
to their customers. But, it is only a seasonal offer," pointed out
Vinodkumar.

MITDA has roped in few IT majors like Intel, Sahara Computers, WeP
Peripherals, D-Link, Acer, Canon and Frontech, to sponsor this program and give
away special prizes. "Intel is a major sponsorer and customers who buy
Intel-based machines will get an additional lucky draw coupon, as a special
offer," he informed.

MITDA is betting big on this program. Normally, during the festival season,
people spend on buying new things for their homes. "Kerala is known for its
home segment. And, the festival season has just begun with Onam. We have
Deepavali, Ramzan and many more to come, which are celebrated with much fanfare
in Kozhikode," said Vinodkumar.

MITDA was formed in 2003, just a couple of months before AKITDA (All Kerala
IT Dealers Association - a state-level channel body) was founded. However, MITDA
continued to co-exist without merging with AKITDA. "Though, AKITDA is a
state-level association, we are more popular in our region. In fact, almost all
Kozhikode resellers are with us," he stressed. However, MITDA was limited
only to Kozhikode, though it was founded with the objective of serving the
entire Malabar region, which include Canannore, Kasargode, Wayanad and Malapuram.

Since its formation in 2003, MITDA is regular with its annual elections. And,
this year, the new team comprised of M Vinodkumar (Geoverik Infotech (P) Ltd),
President; MP Radhakrishnan (Scales Technologies), Vice President; MK Sujit Babu
(Landmark Systems), General Secretary; Girish V Gopal (GVG Computers), Joint
Secretary and Rajesh Kunhappa (Par Energy Systems Pvt Ltd), Treasurer. It also
has 10 executive members on the board.

"MITDA is quite strong and an active association taking up various
activities for channels and public cause. We have donated computers to help the
poor in IT education, organized blood donation programs, medical camps for
resellers and pleasure trips (tours) for channels. This year, we are planning to
take our members to Mysore for a jolly trip," elaborated Vinodkumar. Yoga,
personality development program, health club and many more on the anvil from
MITDA.

Based on the success of IT Fest 2006, MITDA plans to make it an annual
feature covering more regions next year. "So far, the response is good and
we have campaigned well for IT Fest 2006. In fact, seeing its success more and
more resellers from nearby regions are asking us to enroll them in this program.
But, this year, we want to do only with Kozhikode," he added.

More than 100 consolation prizes are to be won in IT Fest 2006 and MITDA
hopes to double the PC sales in its region during this festive season.