HP helps SMEs

Now Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and emerging enterprises will get help on IT from the global IT major, Hewlett-Packard (HP), says Business-Standard.

The US-based company is launching its 'HP Total Care' service in India, after its commercial roll-out across many global and Asia Pacific markets.

IT spends by the SMEs in the country are expected to grow by 24% this year, which is the fastest among all the BRIC countries.

Leaders of Indian industry are confident of exports topping $200 billion in fiscal 2008-09 despite a strong rupee, states NDTV Profit.

The Indian corporate sector is encouraging exports, despite a strong rupee and a global slowdown, and are improving infrastructure, high transportation costs, poor road linkages with ports and setting a target of a maximum of 10 hours turnaround time at ports for all goods by 2010.

Another sector that needs a major thrust in terms of funding is the SME segment. This can prove to be extremely effective in pushing exports, the survey said.

Emmanuel Ekuwen, national president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (Atcon), says development of the Nigerian content in the ICT industry will boost growth of SMEs, reports Business Day Online.

Atcon, various ICT organisations, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, and CBN will gather this week to take a critical assessment of the Nigerian content requirement of the ICT industry in Nigeria.

"We are looking at developing the Nigerian content in the ICT sector in Nigeria in such a way that SME-scale enterprises can produce antennae, switches, Internet hubs, casings and other pieces of infrastructure and equipment that are used in the ICT industry," says Emmanuel Ekuwen, national president, Atcon.