29th CAN Infotech to start from Monday

 Kathmandu, Feb. 2

The 29^th edition of CAN Infotech – the largest exhibition and trade festival of information and technology-related business and innovations - will be held in the capital from 8-12 February.

The Computer Association Nepal Federation (CAN Federation), the organiser of the event, informed that the CAN Infotech has been organized every year to exhibit new technologies developed in the field of information and communication technology and create meaningful interactions for the development of this sector.

The 'CAN Infotech 2024' is sponsored by is S Power BPE Pvt. Ltd. and co-sponsored by HMC Dahua. It is supported by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Department of Information Technology, and private sector organisations like the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO), WITSA (World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance) and Toa Software Corp have extended their support to this exhibition.

Saying that CAN Infotech will showcase the development and expansion of Nepal's technology sector, CAN Federation President Ranjit Poddar said that it will help in building Digital Nepal. "We are confident that the exhibition of the latest technology and the talents and innovations developed according to the demand of the local market will help the campaign of creating Digital Nepal," he said.

Similarly, General Secretary of the Federation, Chiranjivi Adhikari mentioned that special priority has been given to startups, young talent, innovation and Nepali products in CAN Infotech.

The tickets for the exhibition could be bought at Rs. 100 for the general public and Rs. 50 for students. There will be free entry provision for senior citizens, differently-abled people and children below 10 years of age, while groups of students of government and community colleges can enter free of cost at the recommendation of their respective institutions.

CAN Federation will announce a scholarship on IT education for this year in collaboration with Lord Buddha Education Foundation during the Infotech.

Similarly, Nepal Robotics Academy in collaboration with CAN Federation is scheduled to release the beta version of the generative AI system 'Kanchhi' robot developed in Nepal at the CAN Infotech. There will be a cyber security help desk at the exhibition which will be managed by NP Short and CSRI.

CAN Federation member organizations as well as various national and international information and communication technology companies will participate in the information and communication technology exhibition.

The organiser maintained that the exhibition will be used by businessmen as a platform for business expansion as well as a platform for exhibiting new technologies and observers will be able to view and purchase new and future technologies and equipment in information and communication technology at one platform.

"CAN Infotech will provide an unprecedented opportunity for companies in the information and communication technology sector to expand their market, understand customer needs, conduct market surveys, launch new products and establish mutual relationships with customers," said the CAN Federation.

Likewise, various interactive discussion programmes related to information technology will be organised throughout the Infotech period.

Branding, ICT accessories, product launching, IT career counseling, startup and innovation pavilion, and software pavilion have been arranged at the Infotech.

Priority will be given to products and solutions prepared through research and development in Nepal. Under this, free stalls have been arranged for Nepali startups for innovative and startup pavilions.

'KATAHO' digital address system developed by the company run by celebrated Nepali scientists Ram-Lakshman, will also be inaugurated at the Infotech.

Similarly, arrangements have been made to make the CAN Infotech 2024 live online in collaboration with Mandala System. Under this, virtual viewing can be done by registering at infotech.can.org.np.

So far, 90 per cent (120) stalls have been booked for CAN Infotech 2024. About 3.5 lakh people are expected to visit it.

The first CAN Infotech was organised in 1995.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 February 2024.