TAMIL NADU CHIEF MINISTER MR M K STALIN TO INAUGURATE CII CONNECT 2021

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Chennai, 18th November 2021: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organizing the 20th Edition of CONNECT – An International Conference and Exhibition on Information & Communication Technology (ICT) scheduled for 26-27 November 2021 at Hotel ITC Grand Chola, Chennai in Hybrid mode. Connect is the flagship event of CII hosted by the Government of Tamil Nadu and co-hosted by Software Technology Parks of India, Ministry of Electronics and Telecommunications, Government of India. It is the only event which represents the Information and Communication Technology community in this part of the region. The Partner countries for Connect 2021 are Australia and the United Kingdom. The theme of the two-day conference is “Building a Sustainable Deep ‘T’ech’N’ology Ecosystem”

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru M K Stalin will be inaugurating Connect 2021 on 26th November 2021 and deliver his Inaugural address. Hon’ble Chief Minister will also be presenting CONNECT 2021 Awards @ Connect 2021 and launch various policies of the Department of Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu. Hon’ble Minister for IT, Thiru T Mano Thangaraj, Government of Tamil Nadu will deliver special address at the Inaugural session as well.

Connect 2021 provides an ideal platform for the ICT Industry to understand the various flavors across all verticals of the Industry and drive the essential role of ICT business success for the nation in the digital era. The two-day event will include Power packed sessions on startups, IT & ITeS, ESDM, Emerging Technologies & Skills. The event brings together Technologists, Industry Leaders, Researchers, Infrastructure providers, Policy makers and Start-ups. Connect 2021 will feature exclusive sessions, panel discussions hosted by eminent industry leaders to showcase the fast-paced growth of ICT sector in India, specifically in Tamil Nadu and highlight the state’s potential in IT and ICT Industry.

Dr S Chandrakumar, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu said, “Over the last two decades Connect as an event has resulted in various path breaking initiatives like the formation of Tech corridors, ICT Academy, Specialized Technology Parks, new developments in the Aero Park, MRO hub and IT consortium for skill development & we are confident that under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister, IT investments to the State will scale up multifold. ”.

Mr Josh Foulger, Chairman, CII, Connect 2021 said, “The Connect Event initially commenced as an ICT industry event and has morphed into an International Technology Event, encapsulating all Technology Providers and Technology Consuming Industries, with special focus on Electronics Manufacturing and the overall Services industry”.

CONNECT 2021 will have participation from various Industrial sectors IT/ITES, ICT, Manufacturing, Auto, Textile, Food Processing, Healthcare, Finance, Banking, Infrastructure, MSMEs and all departments of the Government of Tamil Nadu. More than 5000 Senior / Middle management personnel from diverse Industries/organization all over India are expected to attend this conference virtually.

The two-day conference will also recognize and Award Entrepreneurs who have excelled and individuals who have helped growth of the sector. The highlight of the Awards will be the Lifetime Achievement Awards for individual and emerging entrepreneurs besides a Special award category for startups.

Sessions @ Connect 2021 include: Special Plenary Session on “Making TN a Hub of Emerging Technologies & Parallel sessions on Startups to Unicorns; IT & ITES – Driving Business Innovation through Technologies; Developing ESDM Eco-system; Social Transformation through Emerging Technologies; Technology & MSME – Avenue for Sustained Growth; New Age Skills Showcasing “Startup Tamil Nadu” and Panel discussions on “Digital Adoption and Importance of Cybersecurity to protect MSMEs” & on New Age Skills.

Key speakers include: Thiru Thangam Thennarasu, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture, Archeology, GoTN; Thiru Ma Subramanian, Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare GoTN; Dr P T R Palanivel Rajan, Hon’ble Minister for Finance & Human Resources; Thiru T M Anbarasan, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Industries, GoTN, Mr S Krishnan, IAS., Additional Chief Secretary – Industries , GoTN, Dr Neeraj Mittal, IAS., Principal Secretary – IT , GoTN, Dr Omkar Rai; Director General, STPI, Dr J Radhakrishnan, IAS., Principal Secretary – Health & Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu and Mr N Muruganandam, IAS., Principal Secretary – Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI, Mr C K Ranganathan, Chairman, CII Southern Region and Chairman & MD CavinKare Pvt Ltd, Dr BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman, Cyient Ltd, Dr S Chandrakumar, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu and Founder and Executive Chairman, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, Mr Josh Foulger, Chairman, CONNECT 2021 and Country Head & MD, Foxconn International Holding, Mr N Lakshmi Narayanan, Founder Member, Cognizant India, Dr Sridhar Vembu, Founder & CEO, Zoho Corporation, amongst others.