**OT** NIIT aims to create 1,000 Net entrepreneurs
niit.com
02-11-2000 20:35:55
Computer education and software consultancy firm NIIT Ltd, which has launched a project course to nurture Internet entrepreneurs, said today it aims to create 1,000 such people and earn revenue from the project.
"Our idea is to create 1,000 Internet entrepreneurs," NIIT Chairman Rajendra Pawar told a news conference to unveil the coaching exercise which formally starts on Sunday.
The project will impart business education and software skills related to the Internet, and will later encourage entrepreneurs to build business plans and seek funding.
Pawar said NIIT planned to invest in the startups of its student-entrepreneurs. "As we go beyond, we will not be the only VCs (venture capitalists). We have many, many VCs coming to us (looking for business ideas)," he said.
The project aims to attract 1,000 enrolments this year, with each student paying between Rs113,000 ($2,591) to Rs169,000, Pawar said. The project essentially leverages NIIT`s experience and knowledge without much capital expenditure, he said.
NIIT is an Indian pioneer and leader in computer education, but is increasingly focused on software consultancy. In response to a question on NIIT`s prospects of listing its shares in the United States on the lines of other Indian information technology firms, Pawar said the company was in no hurry to do so and its shareholders were comfortable with its current position.
"Our strategy is to absorb the alliances (business partnerships)... We`ll go (for capital) when we have the need," he said.
Source: Reuters |
