State to ink MoU on IT with Israel Ponnala

Hyderabad, May 28 (INN): The state and Israeli government are poised to enter into a partnership to promote Information Technology in Andhra Pradesh with an Israel based IT company setting up base in the city to spread its technical know-how shortly.

The state government and the Hi-tech Industries Association (HIA) of Israel will sign a Memorandum of Understanding shortly. Prior to this, an international meet will be held in Israel capital Tel Aviv from May 29 to June 3. Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who has been invited by the Israeli government, will deliver his key note address on May 29.

The HIA has been identified as one which would promote small and medium IT industries in Andhra Pradesh. The Central government has already given permission to go ahead with the joint venture, Mr Lakshmaiah told media persons at the Secretariat on Saturday. The Minister informed that the international meet will facilitate the state to further embark on
the expansion of IT programme with the HIA.

He expressed confidence that the Joint Venture would promote employment generation, research and development, marketing among others. The cited six-day meet will also facilitate threadbare discussions on trade planning, financial assistance and marketing etc, between the IT partners.

'This is the first time that Andhra Pradesh has ventured with Israel. I am fortunate for having been named to deliver the key note address at the international seminar,' said the Minister. He added that with a further view to spreading the IT companies, the state government had been attempting to enlist the support of multinational and big companies.

The Bangalore based ITC Infotech is expected to set up its unit in the state shortly, Mr Lakshmaiah disclosed. The company is likely to provide 4000 jobs in a span of two to three years once it begins its operations here, he added.

The ITC officials, who were here, had toured the 2-tier cities ' Tirupati, Kakinada, Warangal, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada to study and finalise one of the aforesaid cities for their operations. The Minister said that, in a week the company will select a city of their choice.

The state government is ready to extend all facilities to the company including infrastructure, land among others to suit their requirements. Senior vice president of ITC Infotech Anand Talwar, accompanied by his deputies, was here to survey the cities.