The software and IT service market could recover by the end of the year part of the decline registered in the first half of 2009, as some major projects are expected to be launched both in the public and private sectors, according to the Managing Director for Central and Eastern Europe of Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC) research and strategic consulting company.

In the first half of the year, the drop on the software segment amounted to as much as 25 percent, while the service segment was less impacted, due to outsourcing contracts worth tens of million of euro, he said. In fact, the outsourcing market, especially that of IT infrastructure, could register 30 percent growth this year compared to 2008, even better than the results posted amid economic boom.

For the whole of 2008, Chesaru estimates the IT service market not to drop below last year’s value. However, as far as software is concerned, the decline could be severe, up to 20 percent.

According to PAC, the software market amounted to Ђ380 million in 2008, while the service market was worth Ђ360 mln. The main players on the local software and service market are SAP, Oracle, S&T, Siveco, IBM, and Microsoft.