Confed-ITA's plan of creating a national presence and its efforts to form a national body are finally taking shape. Bhoj Information Technology and Office Automation Association (BITOAA), Bhopal has officially joined Confed-ITA, thus forming a northern chapter of Confed. Madhya Pradesh Telecom And Computer Traders Association (MPTCTA) and Computer Dealers Association (CCMDA), Chhattisgarh will soon be joining BITOAA in the northern chapter of Confed-ITA after getting consent from their executive committee (EC) members. The Bhoj association sent an official letter to Confed-ITA on their joining Confed after getting the consent from all EC members of the association. Said Asish Jain, President, BITOAA, “We are thrilled to join hands with Confed. We want more associations to join this national body, as we can highlight and take up issues on a national level. As of now for the northern chapter, we will have associations from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which includes dealers from Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Raipur and Bilaspur.”

Jain also said that the office bearers for the northern chapter of Confed, including the President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer and two Joint Secretaries will be selected internally after deliberations with the associations in the northern chapter of Confed. “We want more associations to join us and we are also initiating discussions with some more associations in the North to join Confed. Once we strengthen our membership, we will elect office bearers,” he added. Speaking on partnering Confed, Manish Goel, President, MPTCTA said, “We are holding discussions with our association members. It is a great opportunity to form a national level body. We are confident about joining Confed, as we feel that with the help of a national body we can gain mileage for the overall channel community.” Devendra Marwah, President, CCMDA too echoed similar thoughts. “I am talking to a few associations in Maharashtra and inviting them to join Confed, as a national body does has its own advantages. We can take up issues on a national level and the channel can face any issues with a good strength. We are confident of joining Confed and also including few associations from the west,” Marwah claimed.

Commenting on the developments in Confed and its national body, S Karthikeyan, President, Confed-ITA said that the association is looking forward to partnering more associations from the South. “The involvement of associations in the North is a boost to our confidence in forming a national body. We also invite other associations in the South to be a part of Confed's national body. The necessity of a national association is not just for raising issues, but supporting each other during times of crisis,” Karthikeyan said.

He also pointed out that each chapter of Confed would work independently and there would be not set guidelines that the associations and other chapters would have to follow. “We are aware that each region has different issues and does business in a different manner. We can't set guidelines and ask the other chapters to follow them. Each can work individually and support each other in times of crisis. The prime reason for asking the associations to come forward to join Confed is to interact with each other on a national basis,” he added. He also requested the other associations in South to come forward and provide their association e-mail ids as they can be added to the communications list of Confed-ITA.

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