BT at the 2006 India Business Summit
BT was privileged to take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) India Business Summit in New Delhi, in November 2006.
The Summit was a platform for many key stakeholders in India to share their views on the country’s economy, and to identify the opportunities and challenges that will shape the country’s future business environment. In particular, the Summit focused on how India will prepare its growing young population for new jobs and growth in industries other than agriculture, which is where 70% of its working population is currently employed.
Francois Barrault, President of BT International, speaking at the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) India Business Summit in New Delhi
Francois Barrault, President of BT International, participated in a main session entitled "IT and Telecommunications: Time to Think Ahead,” where he talked about the importance of the Indian market to BT, highlighted some of the areas BT is investing in, and explored some of the different ways enterprises can foster innovation in the country.
Barrault said that he was happy to observe India’s rapid transformation and said that India has set the benchmark for success in the digital network economy, particularly in cities such as Bangalore.
Focusing on economic growth, Francois Barrault, President BT International, said “As India moves forward it is important to create competition, to lead innovation and to perceive R&D as being just as important as sales," he said. “Foreign investors are enthusiastic about India and see huge opportunities in its growing economy. For the developed world, India is about more than just labour and cost – it’s about access to knowledge, expert resources and skills.”
A similar note was sounded by Shakeel Ahmad, India’s Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology. He said that India's skilled human resources had made it a global hub for IT, and that next year would be an important year for broadband connectivity in the country. India will experience a social revolution when education and health facilities reach the rural economy through broadband connections, he noted, and this would put the country into a higher growth and development trajectory.
BT executive video interviews
Several senior BT executives took part in the WEF India Business Summit in November 2006. In a series of video interviews they talk about their hopes and aims for the Summit, and describe some of the key BT activities in India.
Please click on one of the right hand links to see the video interviews with:
Francois Barrault, President, BT International who explains the importance of WEF to BT. He gives his views of the India Business Summit and describes some of BT's Corporate and Social Responsibility activities in the country.
Paul Excell, Chief of Operations, BT Group Technology who gives his views on the role of innovation in India’s development, and talks about the latest BT’s latest investments in innovation in India.
Allen Ma, President, BT Asia Pacific who describes the importance of India to BT. He talks about our presence and activities in the country and the growing significance of Indian skills and expertise to global organisations.
Read more about BT’s growing operations and investments in India.
