Naidu told The Financial Express that during the first phase the country had witnessed multinational and major Indian companies leading the IT storm and now the wind was in favour of SMEs.

He said a change in the trend was quite visible in terms of participation. Bangalore IT.Com '99 would host a large number of small and medium companies.

Naidu said, with a view to encourage SMEs, STPI has set up a special and exclusive pavilion with 40 stalls that would enable SMEs to exhibit their products and services to international audiences. "We are also offering 25 per cent subsidy in the stall fee besides providing technical support. The response has been overwhelming. All the stalls are already occupied by SMEs", Naidu said.I-B and . Some of the SMEs participating the event include MM Softek, Global Information Systems, Siri Karya Systems, Bonsai Software and TeNet. Another set of STPI members participate in other focused pavilions like US Pavilion, E-COM and Software Solutions.

According to Naidu, the number of participants have grown by three times against last year. STP has been instrumental in attracting many foreign delegates to bridge business relations between SMEs in India and other countries, he added.

STPI has also extended full, wide-ranging support to all companies participating in the Bangalore IT.Com exhibition including high-speed internet connections, data links, and all the other Technical support for IT.COM. Similar support has been extended to the national conference on E-Governance at Taj Residency, Naidu added.

Naidu estimated that this year, IT.Com would bring in business worth $125 million to the country in one year. STPI has targeted a turnover of Rs 4800 crore against Rs 3400 crore previous year. STPI also has targetting to improve its member base from the current 347 companies.