An in-depth Study on the Animation Industry - Philippine Institute for ...

In a press conference, <strong>An</strong><strong>in</strong>ash Gupta, m<strong>in</strong>ister of the Embassy of India, asked
for "coopetition" between the local <strong>in</strong>dustry and its counterpart <strong>in</strong> India. "Coopetition" is
a term widely used <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>formation technology <strong>in</strong>dustry to mean cooperation among
competitors.
The Philipp<strong>in</strong>es and India have long been considered <strong>in</strong> the global IT <strong>in</strong>dustry as
competitors, particularly <strong>in</strong> the area of services. Both countries nurture competent and
creative IT professionals who are <strong>in</strong> demand <strong>in</strong> major markets like the United States'
Silicon Valley and S<strong>in</strong>gapore, one of Asia's IT hub.
But India is admittedly way ahead of the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es, both <strong>in</strong> terms of size of
<strong>in</strong>dustry and manpower.
Mr. Gupta and Filip<strong>in</strong>o economist Bernardo Villegas, who together led the press
conference, urged companies from the two countries to enter <strong>in</strong>to jo<strong>in</strong>t ventures to be
able to compete with other Asian countries, and capture big markets for IT like the US.
The press conference was held to drum up <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> a sem<strong>in</strong>ar that aims to identify
bus<strong>in</strong>ess opportunities that Philipp<strong>in</strong>e and Indian companies can explore.
It is said that India and the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es can lead <strong>in</strong> software exports <strong>in</strong> the region,
<strong>in</strong>stead of actually confront<strong>in</strong>g each other. Both countries can complement each other
and identify areas where they can compete aga<strong>in</strong>st more f<strong>in</strong>ancially endowed countries
like S<strong>in</strong>gapore and Hong Kong.
Some of the areas of cooperation that he cited are f<strong>in</strong>ancial services, human
resource tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, customer relationship, healthcare and animation.
Mr. Gupta suggested that a delegation from the Philipp<strong>in</strong>e IT <strong>in</strong>dustry could come
to India later this year to talk with their counterparts there.
Mr. Villegas said through the partnerships, companies <strong>in</strong> India and the
Philipp<strong>in</strong>es can complement each other's strengths. He suggested that Philipp<strong>in</strong>e
companies help India <strong>in</strong> penetrat<strong>in</strong>g the US market which Filip<strong>in</strong>o bus<strong>in</strong>essmen are
more familiar with. On the other hand, India knows the market condition <strong>in</strong> the United
K<strong>in</strong>gdom more, hav<strong>in</strong>g once been its colony.
India's IT <strong>in</strong>dustry is grow<strong>in</strong>g at a rate of 45% to 50% annually. Its estimated
revenues <strong>in</strong> 1999 was US$6.5 billion. Software development, an area where Asian
countries are seen to be more <strong>in</strong> a position to compete, makes up 65% of India's IT
<strong>in</strong>dustry. In 1999, its software <strong>in</strong>dustry was estimated at US$3.9 billion.
The passage of the e-commerce bill is expected to turn e-commerce <strong>in</strong> India <strong>in</strong>to
a US$500-million bus<strong>in</strong>ess. Mr. Gupta said the bill was recently approved by the Indian
parliament. On the other hand, the e-commerce bill <strong>in</strong> the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es is now a law. As
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