Date:03/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/03/stories/2005110301441900.htm

Back `Kerala emerging as IT hub'

Our Bureau

Bangalore , Nov 2

KERALA is fast emerging as an IT hub, with the Government vigorously promoting the IT Mission with commitment to provide infrastructural support.

In its quest to become a complete knowledge society by 2010, the Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, has embarked upon a major expansion plan, which would see four phases of development on close to 800 acres.

The full potential of Kerala would unfold in the next five years, says the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy.

"Our business is not just bringing investments to Kerala but enabling the community as well. Our vision is to make the State a knowledge society where information of a global scale is available to every citizen."

Mr Chandy, who declared this at the recently concluded BangaloreIT.in, said that the Government also plans to expand its Akshaya Project to seven new districts and set up 1,310 e-kendras.

The whole of Kerala would be covered by the project by next year. The Akshaya Project was launched in 2003 to encourage entrepreneurship in the New Economy through public-private partnership and bridge the digital divide, he added.