KOCHI, 11 August 2007 — Police and Manpower Exporters’ Association here have joined hands with Protector of Emigrants (PoE) to check the fake overseas recruitment was expanded by including the Protector of Emigrants (PoE). The action group they constituted has the City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham as its chairman. The group will meet every month and review actions taken. “Earlier, the police acted only on receiving cases of cheating. Now, we can impart awareness among the public regarding overseas recruitment and crosscheck genuineness of the claims made by recruiting agencies,” Abraham said. “Whenever a case is reported, it is referred to the group for further action. This saves time in processing cases, especially those involving foreign recruitment agencies. The group members can contact their counterparts in respective countries and verify facts in no time,” he added. There will be a separate filing system under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Special Branch, for storing data like copies of license of the recruitment agency, photographs of licensee and his address.
Sharma Nominated SmartCity Chairman
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Kerala has nominated Fisheries Minister S. Sharma, a close confidante of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, as the chairman of the Smart City (Kochi) Infrastructure Private Limited. SmartCity, a joint venture among Dubai’s Tecom Investments and Sama Dubai, aims to create a large network of industry clusters that will support the growth and development of knowledge-based companies across the world. The state government will hold 16 percent stake in the company that will develop Kochi’s SmartCity. The government has also nominated Principal Secretary (Information Technology) as the director of the joint venture that will create the biggest IT special economic zone of the state, according to an official statement. The government also retains the existing Infopark, which the Tecom initially wanted in its possession to accelerate work on the project that is expected to change the IT investment profile of the state which lags far behind its southern neighbors.
Saudi Company Announces Foray
KOCHI — Saudi Arabia-based information technology firm Arab Sea Company Limited will launch its software business in Kerala as part of India operations next week. “Kochi-based Boon Innovations Limited has been appointed as the regional distributor for Kerala and through Boon we are going to promote our SMACC software in Kerala,” company’s Executive Director Haitham Mohamed Alshasibani told reporters here. Founded in 1980, the company launched its popular SMACC (Sales Management and Accounting System), the software package for accounting, inventory and payroll solutions, in 1992. “The company conducted survey in the US, China, India, France, Malaysia, Russia and Denmark and found there was a vacuum for a good accounting package in India and hence we decided to launch its software business here,” Alshasibani said. Every year 12,000 students are learning SMACC from different colleges in Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Portal to Prevent Cyber Crime
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Kerala has launched a web portal and call center to prevent cyber crimes and to provide information on cyber security and cyber forensics to people. It can address all types of cyber crimes, be it hacking, phishing, e-mail theft or creation of fake websites. Information on cyber threats, virus attacks, preventive measures, precautions, methods for reporting etc are available on the web, www.cyberkeralam.in, designed in a manner that technologists, policemen and laymen could interact easily. A call center for clearing doubts was also opened (91-471-2727004). The project is linked to the high-tech cell of the Kerala Police. The project aims at creating awareness among people about cyber crimes, their impact on the society and methods to prevent them, an official statement here said. The portal was developed by the cyber forensic wing of the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) with the technical help from the high-tech cell of the State police. People can register free of cost on the portal.
High-Tech City Cleared
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The state government has given the green signal to Sobha Developers for its Rs.50 billion high-tech City in Kochi, where Dubai’s Tecom has announced its second SmartCity after Malta. The memorandum of understanding for the state’s highest private investment is expected to be signed between the state government and Sobha Developers during the second week of August. Sobha Developers wanted to sign a MoU with the government since it was mandatory for a private party to secure Special Economic Zone status. The group is headed by Oman-based businessman P.N.C. Menon, who figured on the Forbes’ list of billionaires this year.
