After successfully co-hosting Infocom - India\\'s biggest ICT event based in Calcutta for three years in a row (2002, 2003 & 2004), the ABP Group, one of India\\'s largest media conglomerates, and NASSCOM, the premier chamber of commerce for software and the services industry in India, have joined hands to take the IT revolution even deeper into the heart of East.

The first ever Information and Communications Exposition - NICT 2005 - in Guwahati, Assam, will be held at Vishwaratna Hotel on September 1 and 2, 2005 under The Telegraph and NASSCOM banner.

NICT 2005 is an initiative to showcase the potential of the Northeast to the outside world in a befitting manner and giving the region the opportunity to attract a surge of investments in the most happening sector. The objective is to provide the Indian IT Industry an opportunity to network with key policy makers, financial institutions and IT enthusiasts in the region and create opportunities for beneficial dialogue.

The two-day event will comprise of a conference and an exhibition which will bring over 200 delegates and over 20 exhibitors under one roof and a BPO Job Fair for IT career aspirants.

The panel discussions will involve heads of MNC IT majors from within India and overseas and sessions by the world\\'s leading IT specialists. The key sessions during the exposition will address subjects like e-governance, IT Enabled Services and Business Process Outsourcing, Biotechnology and Technologies of the future.

Besides Union minister Kyndiah, representatives from all the seven northeastern states and Sikkim will attend the exposition.

Prominent among those who will attend the exposition over the two days include MD of ABP Pvt Ltd Mr. Aniruddha Lahiri, NASSCOM President Mr. Kiran Karnik, IIT Guwahati Director Gautam Barua besides business strategists, IT and ITES professionals and marketing and financial analysts, strategy and technology analysts.

The organisers feel that the Northeast as a whole can emerge as a major player in the IT world. The people of the region have a high affinity with English that offers a tremendous opportunity for ITES and BPO sectors. The region itself is strategically located. About 90 per cent of its borders form India\\'s international borders and with increasing trade with ASEAN countries, northeast India has the potential to get catapulted into a position of strategic importance.