Uptron ventures out to Bangladesh

Seema Mishra


Lucknow

Despite running in the red, Uptron India Ltd, the subsidiary of UP Government, has started spreading its tentacles. After signing an agreement to impart computer education and training in Bangladesh, it is now eyeing Sri Lanka and Nepal market to cash in on the IT boom, according to Arun Arya, MD,

Uptron.

Under the brand name of 'Uptron ACL', the company has already signed agreements with five franchisees in Delhi, Gurdaspur, Ranchi, Patna and Dhaka. The high point of the agreement is that Uptron would start its venture with zero working capital as money had been an area of concern for this company. Arya said under this proposal Uptron would be utilizing its brand equity which had been developed over the past 25 years.

Master franchisees would utilize their financial power and entrepreneurial skills while Uptron would make use of its skilled manpower to design the courseware, create adequate management systems and teaching pedology, he pointed out. "In return, Uptron would get 75 percent of the income received from these franchisee centers. This would help in tiding over the cash crunch."

Under the present module, Uptron has prepared corporate training programs, e-governance model and distance learning programs in the field of computer education. As per planning, Uptron plans to open 40 to 45 franchisee centers which will enroll 10,000 to 15,000 students annually.

Arya said that Uptron-ACL had already become an authorized work-center at Lucknow for Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It had already trained 120 students in Certificate in Computing.

Uptron has also taken up the challenge to impart corporate training to state government employees. The UP government plans to make its employees computer literate. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the company has designed courses for different government employees depending upon their seniority and job content.

Uptron has also provided subsidized computer education to girls of economically weaker section of the society under the Norwegian-funded central government scheme of NORAD. Again the project was based on working capital, informed Arya.

Uptron has also bagged various e-governance projects including of trade tax department where the company has set up networking in different sites including Lucknow and NOIDA and has connected 17 check posts with 58 offices of Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. The company has also received another prestigious World Bank-aided order from IG stamps and registration for total computerization of their offices at Lucknow, NOIDA, Greater NOIDA and Ghaziabad at a project cost of Rs 1.69 crore.

(CNS)