The software industry has developed rapidly between 2000 and 2005 as income from the sector increased, local officials organising the Shanghai software outsourcing international summit that began in Beijing on Wednesday said.
The industry garnered an income of $3.79 billion and employed 1,20,000 people last year, representing an 860 per cent and 500 per cent increase respectively since 2000, they said, adding it developed even faster this year with $5.69 billion income in the first half of the year.
Apart from major multinationals, Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys, Satyam, NIIT, Wipro and i-flex have set up operations in Shanghai, boosting the city's status as a major software centre.
"Shanghai will focus on training and encourage innovation in the software industry, so as to further boost the development of the industry," director of the Shanghai Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, Zhou Bo said.
Despite rapid development, Shanghai's software industry is still lacks experience, professionals and innovations, he said.
The Shanghai software outsourcing international summit is an annual event that was first launched by the Shanghai Foreign Economic and Trade Commission and the Shanghai Municipal Information Commission in 2003.
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