The state's IT sector received a major boost on Wednesday with a dozen firms, including Patni Computer Systems and Cognizant, deciding to set up facilities in proposed special economic zones (SEZ) in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh's IT sector received a major boost on Wednesday with a dozen firms, including Patni Computer Systems and Cognizant, deciding to set up facilities in proposed special economic zones (SEZ) in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The state government signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for these projects, involving an investment of Rs.4.57 billion ($5.5 billion). The government allotted 83 acres of land for these companies that are expected to create 24,000 jobs.
The MoUs were signed during the inauguration of GITEX India, the flagship event of the Dubai World Trade Centre and the state government. Encouraged by this sudden rush of IT companies, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said the state aimed to move up from the present fifth position to the top in the country in IT exports.
CBay Systems, Patni Computers Limited, Cognizant Technologies, Sonata Software, DQ Entertainment and Connexxant will set up their operations on 65 acres of land at Popallaguda in Hyderabad, the country's first software SEZ coming up on 120 acres.
The government has also allotted 10 acres of land to Zen Technologies Limited in the hardware park near the upcoming international airport at Shamsabad on the city's outskirts.
IIC Systems, IIC Technologies, World Infotech, Metaminds Software Solutions and Infotech Enterprises will have their campuses on 13 acres of land at IT SEZ in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.
The land allotment was made under the IT policy, which offers various sops to companies depending on the number of jobs they create.
US based IT services giant Cognizant, will invest Rs.400 million to set up its facility, which will provide jobs to 3,663 people.
Leading Indian IT services provider Patni will invest Rs.1.6 billion for its campus to come up on 30 acres of land and the projected capacity is 10,000 people. CBay Systems, a leading provider of healthcare business process outsourcing, will spend Rs.1 billion on its facility, which is expected to provide more than 2,500 jobs.
Semiconductor design major Connexant will set up its operation at an investment of Rs.350 million. Sonata Software will invest Rs.300 million to set up its campus on eight acres of land.
Reddy asked the department and industry to be proactive to notch 70 percent growth in IT exports during the current fiscal. "We achieved 65 per cent growth in last year against the national average growth rate of 35 per cent," he said.
IT exports from the state were $1.8 billion during 2004-05.
The chief minister said the government also wants to focus on hardware. "We have identified 1,200 acres of land for a hardware park," he added.
Reddy also gave away awards to best ICT companies on the occasion. Satyam Computer Services Limited, Wipro and Microsoft India received the awards for top exporters in IT sector while Genpact, HSBC and Dell were declared top exporters in ITes sector.
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