The e-choupal network of information technology enabled information and trading kiosk of ITC has been shortlisted for the Development Gateway Award for 2005. The e-choupal network was among the six worldwide finalists for the award, the company said in a release issued here today. The winner of the $100,000 award will be announced in September 2005. The award would recognise outstanding achievement in using information technology (IT) to improve people's lives in developing countries.

The six finalists have been chosen from 135 nominations, the ITC release added. The shortlisted entries had demonstrated the impact that technologies such as the Internet, satellite communications, smart cards, and others had on development. The award, earlier known as the Petersberg Prize, will be given away at the Development Gateway Forum 2005 to be held on September 16-17 in Beijing.

The forum, co-hosted by China and the World Bank, would bring together the leaders in IT and development sectors from around the world to address the theme of "Information technology and collaborative development," the release said. In a parallel development, ITC Infotech India Ltd (I3L) had extended its agreement on strategic sub-contracting with its principal, PTC of Needham, MA., for product development software, till 2008. I3L was the driver behind the e-choupal network as well.

I3L and PTC had entered into the contract in July 2003 for 39 months, when I3L was a new entrant in the IT industry. I3L was now an integral part of the PTC global services delivery system, ITC said in a release issued here. I3L would provide services to PTC customers for software development and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions out of its dedicated offshore delivery centre in ITC Infotechpark at Bangalore, Sanjay Verma, managing director of ITC Infotech, said.