The event will be organized from September 1 to 4 at Direction Exhibition and Convention Center at United World Trade Center, Tirpureshwar. [break]
The initial journey
Though the history of software developers in the country dates back to mid-eighties, the commercial journey began only from the early-nineties.
“The team led by Shriharsha Koirala developed the first software in the country with commercial purpose,” Kishor Pant, second vice-president of CAN, said, outlining the history of software developers in the country. “In the early days, research institutes themselves used to develop software to simplify their data analysis process.
Software developers like Professional Computer System and Mercantile came up in the early nineties. The number of software developers increasing after outsourcing was introduced in the late nineties. A number of new developers entered the scene in 2000.
“The companies like Itech Valley and Yomari are considered the forerunners in outsourcing,” Pant added.
The software industry in the country is slowly getting diversified. With developers like Midas Technology exploiting the potentials in health and education sector, the market is not limited to banking and outsourcing.
CAN officials, however, informed that banking software is the mostly used software in the country. “Unfortunately, most of the banks are using software developed by foreign companies,” Pant added.
Local software developers say they can deliver quality on par with the international companies if customers are willing to pay better price for it.
Pant feels that the sector is yet to get priority from the government that it deserves. “How can we blame private firms for not using local software when the government agencies themselves are involving foreign developers in their projects?” Pant questioned.
CAN SofTech 2007
The first edition of CAN SofTech organized in 2007 saw the participation of 45 software developers, including those from South Korea, Sri Lanka and India. The event had become successful in drawing about 50,000 visitors.
“As this was the first of its kind event, we had also organized regional a seminar on software development,” said Narayan Neupane, secretary of CAN. He also informed that the event organized in coordination with Asia Pacific Regional Computer Association also known as ASICIO.
“The whole concept behind inviting international participants for the seminar was to inform the outer world about Nepal´s software innovation of Nepal and to develop news concept from their creations,” he added.
CAN SofTech 2008
The second edition of CAN SofTech organized in 2008 was not so encouraging. Only 30 companies participated in the event and the number of visitors also declined by 20,000 to about 30,000. CAN officials balms lack of proper groundwork for the dismal performance of the second edition of CAN SofTech.
Midas CAN Softech 2010
The bitter experience of 2009 and dismal performance of 2008 made the organizers to work hard before organizing the event.
“Realizing past mistakes, we have really worked hard this time and have completed all necessary preparation,” CAN President Suresh K Karna told myrepublica.com. Karna informed that 58 stalls, including two stalls from Bangladesh and eight government pavilions, are participating in the event.
“This is not the event of hardware where people come and buy products. The main objective of this event is to raise awareness on software and service rather than the sales,” Karna added.
Midas Technology, one of the popular software developers working in the field of health and education, is the title sponsor of the event.
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