COMPASS is one of the premier IT trade associations of India headquartered in Kolkata, whose members are spread across the entire Eastern India. The Association was formed in 1993 by a few prominent and enthusiastic IT entrepreneurs based in Kolkata with the goal to look after their interests, exchange ideas and thoughts for the spread of IT industry in the eastern region. Soon thereafter, in early 1994, 19 IT dealers assembled at Hotel Lynton, Kolkata, and COMPASS was conceived under the leadership of Mr. K. L. Lalani, Managing Director, Lalani Infotech, and was registered under the Companies Act on 9th June in the same year. The aims and objects of the Association are to protect the rights and interests of its members and the IT industry, negotiate with the statutory authorities collectively, encourage and spread IT awareness in eastern India.
As a non-profit organization, it engages itself actively in the development of IT trade in the eastern part of India and also holds an IT exhibition under the same name every year. The members of the Association are committed to setting and maintaining the highest technical and ethical standards in the independent area of specialist computer-related services. They work together for the healthy growth of the IT industry. Today, this organization comprises 271 IT entrepreneurs who work independently, attached with the ethics and goals of the Association. The Association has three broad categories of membership: Life, Annual and Corporate. All the members have relevant experience in their field of expertise and enjoy good repute. They provide the entire range of services in the most aspects of computing.
Mr. Lalani says, “If we had tried, we could have made four times more members in numbers, but our target was Quality - and not Quantity.”
COMPASS plays a major role in building the infotech industry of eastern India in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal, chambers and associations, agencies, multinationals, service providers and merchants. It works hand in glove with the West Bengal Government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and expanding business opportunities on various verticals.
Mr. Lalani adds, “More than 1,500 dealers are connected with the IT industry today in the eastern part of India. West Bengal is growing at a rapid pace and is emerging as the third-highest IT earner and third top IT hub in India. Today, West Bengal is home to more than 175 big global and domestic IT players who are operating from Kolkata.”
COMPASS recently celebrated its Twelfth Annual General Meeting on 23rd September with all their founder members along with the new-comers in the IT industry at Hotel, The Park Royal, in Kolkata, where a new Executive Committee was formed and Mr. K. L. Lalani of Lalani Infotech was unanimously elected as the President of COMPASS for the year 2006-07, taking over the charge from the former President, Mr. V. K. Bhandari. On this occasion, Mr. Lalani shared all his experiences with his members as to how and why COMPASS was formed. He also asked to maintain harmony and unity among the members during the year. The Membership Directory of COMPASS was also released by its newly-elected President, Mr. K. L. Lalani, and the immediate past President, Mr. V. K. Bhandari.
According to Mr. Lalani, he will take up all the new issues, which may come up during the year, and also take up some new issues which are required to improve trade practice in the industry like the warranty issue, payment issue, credit policies, etc. He has also plans to hold 3–4 IT exhibitions and seminars this year and wants to attract overseas investors by organizing Road Shows in towns and cities, mass mailing and advertising in all the leading newspapers.
For the knowledge of those who are not much conversant with the Lalani Infotech, it is a leading IT distribution company in eastern India, having its branches and/or franchises in Jharkhand, West Bengal, North Bengal, Orissa and all the North-East states. The company’s present turnover is Rs.80 crore and is expected to touch Rs.120 crore by the year 2007.
