gotoBavaria opens second regional office in Bangalore

Our eFE Bureau in Bangalore

GotoBavaria, the investment promotion agency of Free State of Bavaria, has set up its second regional office in Bangalore. The only other office of gotoBavaria outside Germany is in Silicon Valley. The Banglore office will start functioning by January 2001.

Speaking to the media here, gotoBvaria CEO, Dr Peter Friess said, “gotoBavaria will serve as one-stop agency for all Indian IT business requirements in the German state of Bavaria.” It will assist Indian companies in finding business partners and venture capital in Bavaria. Indian companies can avail of office space in Bavaria with all technology infrastructure for six months at a minimal rate and study the environment before setting up their offices there.

Bavarian Chancellory head and minister for media and IT industries, Erwin Huber said, “The goal of gotoBavaria is to build a good partnership between companies in India and Bavaria.” Bavaria, the fourth largest IT location in the world, would be an ideal choice for the Indian companies to set up shop, Mr Huber said.

Mr Huber said gotoBavaria would provide Indian companies with good location, partnership opportunities with Bavarian companies, support of the government and partnership in research activities. Bavarian companies would also look at India to set up their offices here, Mr Huber added.

Karnataka IT minister BK Chandrsekhar said that by setting up their second office in Bangalore gotoBavaria had boosted the morale of the Indian IT industry. He promised all the support from the state government to the new venture.

gotoBavaria is also looking at the films and media business in India. gotoBavaria India operations executive director John Kottayil said he would meet Indian media houses for joint ventures with Bavarian companies, especially in film production. Bavaria is already home to Indian companies like DSQ, Digital GlobalSoft and NIIT. This year there is a good participation from Bavarian IT companies in Bangalore IT.com.