Maharashtra's share is 20% of IT exports from the country, according to Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) data, with the state ranked below Karnataka but higher than other competitors Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The state government is planning a 'start-up policy' to promote a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the manufacturing and information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITES) sector. This is aimed at attracting these incubation units to Maharashtra by making the state an attractive destination compared to current start-up magnets — Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Maharashtra's share is 20% of IT exports from the country, according to Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) data, with the state ranked below Karnataka but higher than other competitors Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The Maharashtra government aims at making the state a more attractive destination for the manufacturing sector and spur growth and employment. It claims to have attracted investment to the tune of around Rs65,000 crore since the BJP-Shiv Sena-led government took charge late last year. This includes the proposed investment by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn.
"We are working on a policy to support start-ups in the IT and manufacturing sectors," a senior state industries department official told dna, adding that additional FSI and financial benefits among other incentives for these industries were being looked into.
High Internet and telecom penetration in Maharashtra, rising urbanisation and financial inclusion, better physical infrastructure than competing states, high literacy rate and availability of trained manpower may serve as force multipliers in the state's attempt in this regard.
"Cities like Pune have a substantial base in the IT industry. However, we should be able to promote start-ups elsewhere also," the official said. The policy will be part of the niche, sectoral policies which have been drafted or are being worked on for various industries like retail, electronics and defence manufacturing. IT and textiles already have such sectoral policies.
According to Maharashtra's IT/ITES policy 2015, new IT parks will be required to allocate at least 2% of the built-up area for providing incubation facilities to new units. This area would be treated as a part of the park to be used for IT activities, and will be eligible for additional FSI benefits accordingly.
"Leveraging this itself for the start-ups will be great as it translates into a lot of space," the official said.
The IT/ITES policy also says that the government will facilitate the setting up of incubation centres in Information Communication Technology, like embedded software and chip and telecom technology.
The employment in IT sector across India in the 2004-05 financial year was 8,30,000; this has increased almost four times to 31,32,000 by the 2014-15 fiscal.
According to STPI data, IT sector's exports from Maharashtra rose from Rs5,508 crore in 2003-04 to Rs49,796 crore in 2013-14, up by 800%.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "employment")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}