Pune, August 14, 1998

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is organizing a conference of SAARC countries on Multilingual and Multimedia Information Technology, "EMMIT'98", from September 1-4, 1998 at Pune. This will be the first-ever attempt to bring together all SAARC countries to discuss and address how Multilingual Computing Technology could be used for development. This international event is coming up in Pune, when the state government of Maharasrtra just announced to make this city as the 'IT Capital of the Asia'.

• Objective:
  The main objective of the conference is to create a shared vision of SAARC nations for development and applications of Multilingual Information Technology for national development. The other objective of this Infotech meet is to create a new platform for different languages, which are the diversified identity, pride and a common heritage factor of these nations. Finally, but importantly, to put Pune in the International IT Map.
• Methodology:
  The methodology of the conference is to familiarize the participants with development in Multilingual Information Technology among the SAARC countries, and help to spread Multilingual Information Technology to the grassroots level by bringing in multilingual facility on computers and communications.
• Vision:
  In this conference it will be proposed to organize such meets every year and to set up the National Centre for SAARC Information Technology (NCSIT) to deal with Multilingual Information Computing as a future course of action to share and carry the vision of multilingual computing technology.
• Importance:
  The advent of information technology through computers is having a profound effect on the way we communicate and document our feelings and thoughts. English is the predominant language of computers around the globe. While large part of our population is English literate, computers must be accessible in their local languages if the fruits of the modern information technology revolution are to be reaped by the masses. This will require bringing together a variety of expertise developed within the SAARC region so that language adaptability on Information Technology could gain fair speed.
  

According to Shri. R.K. Arora, Executive Director, C-DAC, "the conference is being held when we are knocking at the doors of the next millennium. With the information technology having shrunk the entire world, a conference of SAARC nations to address communication using information technology in a multilingual fashion assumes important dimensions, for we share so much in common".

Shri. Ravindra Gupta, Secretary, Department of Electronics indicated that India has a mission objective to become an IT super power in a decade. This can happen only if the country can create an IT society. PC penetration and localization of software are crucial for this purpose. The National Task Force on Information Technology set up by the Prime Minister has recommended a promotional campaign to boost IT in Indian languages to enable greater diffusion of IT in the society to improve productivity and overall quality of life. The expertise developed in this area can be shared with that in other SAARC countries to build upon developments in the region.

This info-tech meet, which is coinciding with the popular "Pune Festival" has received a good response from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh. More than 50 information technology experts have confirmed their participation in this meet to express their views and present their activities in Multilingual Computing Technology area.

The four day conference is organized by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, is also sponsored by the Department of Electronics (DoE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL), Oracle (India), TVSE Ltd., STAR TV India and Indian Express Group.

The inaugural function of the conference will be held on September 1, 1998 at Chandrashekara Auditorium of IUCCA, Pune University Campus, Pune. Shri. Ravindra Gupta, Secretary, Department of Electronics (DoE) will be the Chief Guest and Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) will deliver the keynote address. Shri. R.K. Arora will welcome and give the details of the conference.

The event will feature 12 different sessions starting from September 2, 1998 which will be held at Hotel Pride Pune, on diversified subjects related to multilingual and multimedia technology. Each session will witness a keynote address by an eminent personality followed by expert presentations. The event will also feature panel discussion, exhibition, and launching of new multilingual products and solutions.