AP emerging as most preferred IT destination: CM

Hyderabad, Sept 29 (INN): Stating that the state has emerged as the most preferred destination for Information Technology businesses, Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday said that this has been because of the requisite initiatives taken by the government. Mr Rosaiah was speaking to the gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Center in Nanakramguda, Gachibowli. The Chief Minister told the gathering that his government has taken requisite initiatives to provide all comforts to the ICT industry through creating plug and play and walk to work kind of office environment through encouraging setting up of IT special economic zones in various parts of the State.

He said that the state has the highest number of IT SEZs, numbering 57 as against a total number of 353 IT SEZs approved by the Union government in the country. This shows the confidence of IT companies have in the State to set up, grow and expand their operations. Mr Rosaiah also appealed to Mr Kris Canekeratne to further undertake expansion plans of Phase II as planned and provide employment to another 3,000 people making the headcount to over 6,000 in the near future. He assured to extend all possible assistance in this regard.

The Chief Minister also disclosed that his government proposed to start IT SEZs in three-tier towns like Warangal and Nalgonda. He said that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognised as an important constituent of the national economics contributing significantly to employment generation and innovation. Mr Rosaiah added that Andhra Pradesh was the first to encourage participation of SMEs in the e-governance projects by creating a mechanism for empanelment of SMEs and awarding the State e-governance projects. The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the IT industry would avail the incentives and facilitation mechanisms provided in the ICT policy and conduct their businesses in a most profitable manner.

The Institute has been launched by a global IT services company which has invested approximately Rs 75.30 crore in setting up the new center. The ATC has been built on over 6 acres of land, and when fully built it would provide a 6000 seat capacity. Minister for IT, Youth Services & Sports Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (APIIC) Chairman Srighakolapu Sivarama Subrahmanyam, IT and Communications Principal Secretary K Ratna Prabha, and APIIC Vice Chairman and Managing Director BR Meena were present.