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n i n e
G
ujarat, over the past few years, has been a state in action. It has witnessed
the arrival of foreign investment on its shores in areas such as fertilizers
and petrochemicals. So heavy has been the emphasis on “heavy industries”
that some of the more recently emerging sectors such as the dotcom segment have
escaped attention.
However, this trend clearly needs to alter. Just as Gujarat has managed to become
the
numero uno
state in many industrial sectors, it has to take a lead in the enlarging,
dotcom domain. Most other Indian states are opting for the dotcom route to
attain economic
nirvana
and there’s no way Gujarat should lag behind.
The success formula for the Internet age mixes conventional wisdom with next
generation logic in equal measure. This is to say that age-old brick and mortar
companies are embracing the click and portal way of life, leading to the unique
bricks and click combination.
Analysts believe that today, businesses simply have to integrate into the e-economy
to survive and the best way of doing so is by converting from a bricks base to one
that boasts both traditional bricks and new wave click flavors. The brick and click
model today is regarded as the most reliable, sought-after, sure-fire means of achieving
growth for most companies. Gujarat has an inherent edge in this environment as
well. Bricks and mortar companies abound within its boundaries. These ventures
can therefore diversify into the clicks territory, create market cap and then even
take over other bricks-based businesses.
While the large companies based in Gujarat will be the first to take the initiative
and dotcom themselves, there’s nothing stopping the younger, nimbler and more
recent entrants from undertaking the same journey. The government too has to
play facilitator in the grand Gujarat dotcom game plan. By taking a few crucial
steps, the Government has to enable the state to catch the dotcom bus and speed
successfully down the superhighway.
The Times of India, Ahmedabad August 25, 2000
“
The Great Gujarat Incubation Engine!”
