IT wizards eye more apicta awards

Fourteen software applications that won in the local round are in the running for the Asia Pacific ICT Awards (Apicta) 2008 competition in Indonesia next month.

"This year, we hope to gain more awards from Apicta. Last year, Thai applications bagged three top and three runner-up awards," Rungruang Limchoopatipa, president of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa), said yesterday.

He was pleased with the large number of applications - over 100 - for the Thailand ICT Awards (Tica) 2008, hosted by his agency.

 Of the total entries at the country level, 45 passed to the final round, thanks to their business potential.

Apicta is scheduled for November 12-16.

Sutee Satanasathaporn, secretary-general of the Association of Thai ICT Industry and a member of the Apicta executive committee, said the association would work harder to train the local winners for the upcoming international contest.

"They will be coached by former judges for the previous Apicta. Last year, Thailand submitted 12 applications and six were awarded. It was a good performance with a 50-per-cent winning ratio, compared to Singapore which submitted 40 applications but won only two top awards and four runner-up awards," Sutee said.