Media Release

Mangaluru, Feb 26: ATC Group, consisting of Asian Trading Corporation, ATC Publishers and Brilliant Printers with over 70 years in the business of publishing and printing, opened its technology development centre 'ATC Online LLP' at Goldfinch Complex here.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the centre, Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Bernard Moras complimented the directors for their dedication, perseverance, hard work and excellence in their respective fields of expertise. While enumerating the number of institutions that could benefit from this initiative, he hoped that the new venture would result in a lot of good for the society.

Bishop of Mangaluru, Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza lauded the directors for considering Mangaluru to set up the new organisation which would result in employment opportunities for talent in Mangaluru as well as help institutions with the excellent software package that would be made available by the organisation. He assured of his support and exhorted everyone present to support and encourage ATC Online.

J R Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru South said that he would do all within his capacity to support the initiatives of the three entrepreneurs. He said they deserved encouragement and support for the initiative of developing the city. He referred to the Mangalore Internet City project pioneered by Ivan Fernandes and his collaborators and complimented them for the initiative and commitment to give back to society and Mangaluru in terms of providing employment and economic development through the project. He commended the persistent efforts of Ivan Fernandes despite all the challenges faced.

Rev Fr. Dionysius Vaz, Vice President, Mangalore Jesuits Educational Society and Rector, St. Aloysius College in his Keynote Address spoke on “Importance of Technology in Education Today” He spoke of his acquaintance with the promoters and wished them all well.

Earlier, addressing reporters, Ivan Fernandes, director said that ATC Online has entered the area of automating schools after a year of market research. Stressing the need for access to technology among students at an early age, he said that though e-education is available among affluent schools, it is still a dream for most other schools that cater to the economically weaker sections, as they cannot afford to pay for technology. "ATC Online has taken the initiative to fill this gap and make technology available and affordable to all children. Ever since it launched the initiative in September 2017, it has already signed over 40 schools and plans to cross 200 schools by the end of the next financial year. He thanked all their clients for their patronage.

On the need for setting up the centre in Mangaluru, Ivan Fernandes said that Mangaluru has the best talent for IT development and the centre's strategy is to promote local talent. "We expect to grow with around 100 employees by the end of this year," he said and added that the centre in Mangaluru is supplemented by its existing marketing and customer support offices in Bengaluru and Dubai. The other directors, managing director Brilliant Printers Pvt Ltd, Peter Anil Rego, director, ATC Publishers Nigel Fernandes and general manager, ATC Online, Richard Fernandes were present.