THE Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai-based Indian Business & Professional Council(IBPC) to boost IT exports.

The MoU was signed by the two organisations in the presence of Mr S. Lakshminarayanan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology and Mr Y.K. Sinha, Consul General, Consulate General of India.

Mr Lakshminarayan said that the signing of the MoU with IBPC was a big step in promoting IT exports from India to the Gulf and West Asia. The Ministry would extend all support in this regard, he said.

He said that the export of IT products had increased to $10,764 million during the year 2002-03 and for the year 2003-04, the figure is placed at $13,766 million.

Exports to the UAE have also increased substantially from $88 million during 2001-2002 to $102 million in 2002-2003 and the projected exports for 2003-2004 is $125 million.

Mr Lakshminarayan further added that new identified markets for hardware exports included East and West Africa and Russia.

The UAE, Jordan and Lebanon are being targeted for software exports from India, he said.