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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 02/26/2008 - Mr. Ken Ulman, Executive, Howard County flanked by a delegation from Maryland, US had expressed his keen desire for a prolonged association between the two cities.
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At a formal Press Conference held in Taj West End, Mr. Ken Ulman, Executive, Howard County flanked by a delegation from Maryland, US had expressed his keen desire for a prolonged association between the two cities.
On his maiden visit after being appointed to office, Mr. Ulman said “We began planning our trip to India nearly one year ago. From an economic development standpoint particularly, India has intrigued me as a country full of opportunities. Not simply as a place for outsourcing but as a partner where investment can and does occur in both Howard County and India--allowing for greater economic growth in each location”. His mission included accompanying the MiniSAR Payload to be implemented on the “Chandraayan I Lunar Mission” which is scheduled to be launched very soon by the ISRO. He also expressed his pleasure at the way in which the Indian Space & Science community is opening up to the west.
Of the eleven payloads, the MiniSAR Payload was to be developed by NASA which in turn outsourced the development of the same to the Advanced Physics Lab of the John Hopkins University, situated in the vicinity of the Howard County. Although he expressed his desire to be present for the launch of the “Chandraayan I”, he was skeptic of the possibility. However he stated that they would closely monitor the launch from Maryland.
Further Mr. Ulman and his team of delegates had thrown open an offer for SME’s to establish in Howard County, stating that Howard County was a gateway to the US considering it’s geographical proximity to the Capital of US; Expedited Permits. Other Sops on offer are: Property Tax Credits, Convertible Loans, Training Grants, Job creation Tax Credits etc.
Addressing the Media, Mr. Richard Story, CEO Howard County Economic Development Authority said “We are offering an avenue for the SME’s that look forward to establish shop in the US Parallelly to their Indian Operations. We are offering many sops and Support Services to the establishments.” When asked what kind of sops they would be given he indicated that the Property Tax Credits would be 75% in the 1st Year and subsequently 50% in the second year and 25% in the third year. Also he stated that Support Services like Infrastructure and banquet services are also available for upcoming Establishments thus not being burdensome in their Financial Spreadsheets.
Adding confidence to the claims of the Howard County; Mr. A N Ananth (CEO, PRISM Microsystems Inc.), a prominent Indian Entrepreneur with headquarters in Columbia, Maryland and offices in Bangalore stated “We have been incorporated in Howard County while a lot of our research, development and back office work has been carried out in Bangalore. And with the World literally being flat our access to focus on Bangalore as an integrated part of the World Economy has paid off. With Howard County being a gateway to the US, with its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools gives a potential to upcoming SME’s to establish Shop.”
Howard County was clear in its approach for inviting entrepreneurs and was not specific about only IT organizations but also organizations from the fields of Bio-Technology, Infrastructure Consultancy; and Insurance Sectors.
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