Bangalore IT.Com, which begins on November 1, has attracted more than 290 companies and delegations from 15 countries, organisers said on Friday.

Organisers said the seventh edition of the IT industry exposition was the largest ever in terms of participation.

They said the five-day event would showcase a wide spectrum of latest in information, communications and media technology through ten pavilions, including animation and games, digital lifestyle and spectrum and BPO and career mart.

There will be six conferences on technology outsourcing, IT innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities in India, and e-governance, among others, according to officials of Karnataka government and Software Technology Parks of India, the organisers.

Among the countries taking part are the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Russia, China and Spain, while the companies include Microsoft, Intel, AMD and Reliance, officials said.

Karnataka's IT and BT Secretary M K Shankaralinge Gowda and STPI Bangalore Director B V Naidu said India Semiconductor Association, an association of semiconductor companies in India, would be formally launched at the event.

Australia was sending a delegation of 60 companies and the event's second day had been designated 'Australian day',

Gowda said.

"The focus will be on trade interactions, promoting the strength of Karnataka, especially the potential of secondary cities, and quality in IT at the higher end," Gowda said, adding that Karnataka had 1,422 companies in the sector.

Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Government of Victoria, Australia, Marsha Thomson, and British High Commissioner in India Michael Arthur were among those slated to attend the inaugural function, where Chief Minister N Dharam Singh was likely to announce an initiative on the hardware sector, officials said.

Naidu said 20 business proposals would be put before venture capitalists for possible investment.

Officials said a major Indian IT company and an MNC company were likely to announce expansion into Mangalore and Mysore, respectively, which was expected to lead to other companies also following suit to drive growth in the region.