Tsunami to have little or no impact on industry

At a time when Tamil Nadu is pitching hard its IT potential and positioning
itself as the most favorable destination for IT investments, will the killer
Tsunami impact the burgeoning IT industry? We posed this question to various IT
industry heads of leading companies.

While most declined to comment officially, off the record, most of them
opined that the Tsunami would have little or no impact on the workings of the
industry. At the same time, most of them contemplated that they will in some way
help the relief operations either by contributing to the PMO's relief fund or
by tying up with other NGOs. Ingram Micro India Director-Sales, SP Rajguru felt
tremors on the sand first at 6.30 AM while jogging.

"As far as IT business is concerned, no damage or loss has been reported
by any company in the region. Even companies in Pondicherry have not been
affected due to the Tsunami as most of them operate from the central part of the
city. The only problem the IT industry could face is in clearing goods from the
port, which is badly affected. But, it would not have any impact on business or
spiraling of prices, as most companies hold enough stock, anticipating the
festive season sales and year-end targets," he added.

"All our networks are up and running without any problem and none of our
infrastructure, even the under-sea cable link, got damaged in the Tsunami,"
said Tata-VSNL CGM, AS Menon. "Although we have our factories on the
coastal-line of Chennai, Pondicherry and Sri Lanka, none of it got affected and
all our people, factory, business and operations are safe," said Numeric
Power Systems MD, R Chellapan.

Another problem being faced because of the tsunami is consignments reaching
the vendors and dealers on time. "We are unable to track the shipment of
goods that is being imported from China," said Trishla Impex Ind, Chennai
Director, Ashwin. He further observed that the IT business here would run low
because of this natural disaster.

S GOPIKRISHNA