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IT Task Force to seek Craig Barrett's advice

Barrett, who took over from the legendary Andy Grove as Intel's CEO last year, is also slated to discuss issues related to information technology with the

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Prime Minister's Task Force on Information Technology.

Though the task force does not have an agenda for the meeting with Barrett, sources say that the board members are likely to seek his opinion on the reports of the task force and solicit his advise on future policies.

"The task force would seek Dr Craig Barrett's advise on formulating India's information technology related policies and what role can companies like Intel play," the sources added.

Barrett, known as a no-nonsense manager, is credited with turning Intel's manufacturing operations into a key strategic asset.

They were barely adequate until he took them over and revamped the whole setup in the mid-Eighties.

IT industry sources say that the 59-year-old Barrett, on his second visit to India, would also take a hard look at Intel's business plans for the country and talk to some of the top-notch CEOs of companies, both Indian and foreign.

If Chandrababu Naidu can manage to take time off from his state and make it to Delhi on Monday, he would interact with Barrett as a chief minister of an India state on the move and a member of the task force.

Sources say that top functionaries in the BJP-led government are keen that Intel sets up a chip-manufacturing unit in India.

Naidu would like to woo Intel for this purpose. In Asia, Intel has a lone manufacturing base in Malaysia where the economic crisis has taken a toll on several foreign investments.

On Tuesday, Barrett is scheduled to meet some 40-odd CEOs in Bombay under the aegis of NASSCOM, an apex body of software companies, and deliver a talk on leadership.

NASSCOM Executive Director Dewang Mehta said "We are happy that Dr Craig Barrett will address the CEOs of software companies and share his vision on leadership with us. Considering his experience, it would be a treat."

Those who are likely to attend Barrett's Bombay address include Infosys's Narayan Murthy, Tata Consultancy Service's F C Kohli, Harish Mehta and NASSCOM President Saurabh Srivastava.

Though Mehta is tight-lipped, sources in NASSCOM say that the organisation members could also discuss with the Intel CEO the future of chip manufacturing in India.

Barrett, who joined Intel in 1974 as a technology development manager, also heads the US Department of Commerce's Semiconductor Technology Council.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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