Jiangsu, among the top provinces of China, is on a software talent-scouting spree in India in an effort to shore up its status in the sector.
A delegation from the province is in Bangalore and has been meeting Nasscom members.
Said Li Yuanchao, chairman of the standing committee of Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress: "We need to build software companies like Infosys and TCS. The largest Jiangsu-grown software company has a top line of around $150 million and there is an absolute need to educate our graduates. We need India's software knowledge to build our capabilities."
He added that there is a huge market for Indian software companies in China. These can also offer a bridge to the far-eastern countries.
Jiangsu, which has a trade of about $170 billion, is among the top exporting provinces in China. It has exports close to $88 billion. Last year it attracted FDI worth $12 billion.
"To address the challenge of the huge demand for software professionals, which is increasing with economic, social and industry development, a plan to establish a more comprehensive software training network is being initiated. The target is to develop 1 lakh trainees a year," he said.
This is being done with a focus on higher education institutions and vocational schools.
The delegation also met Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and said that there was good scope for bilateral co-operation with Karnataka in the IT sector and other regions.
Singh said the hardware and electronics industry, engineering and manufacturing, textiles and apparels, telecom equipments, machine tools and automobiles were other areas that could be explored for co-operation.
He said that though the silk industry of both Karnataka and China compete with each other, there was a possibility for co-operation in upgrading technology.
