IBM chief holds talks with finance minister

IBM's chief executive and chairman of the board Samuel J Palmisano who is on a visit to India, today called on Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran.

Palmisano, who was supposed to leave for Bangalore, also met Nasscom President Kiran Karnik and executives from the industry.

"It was just a casual talk. They have ambitious plans for India", Maran told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. He, however, did not give details of the discussion.

Palmisano had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday. During the discussion, Singh had made a case for IBM to play a greater role in the government's e-governance initiative and the knowledge economy.

Singh had listed out areas like computerisation of the tax administration as possible investment areas. He asked the IT major to build a long-term relationship with the country.

Though Palmisano did not commit anything, sources said, he assured Singh that IBM would work closely with the government to increase it presence in India. Like his previous visit to India last summer, Palmisano's trip has been a low-key affair this time too. IBM India executives have remained tight-lipped about his visit.