Date:26/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/26/stories/2005122601761300.htm

Back Vizag IT units to get SEZ status

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , Dec. 25

THE Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to develop two hillocks (roughly 100 acres) allotted to the IT companies at Madhurawada village, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, as special economic zones.

At a press meet here on Saturday evening after a review meeting, Ms K. Ratnaprabha, IT Secretary, said that so far 14 companies had been allotted 59 acres on the two hillocks and ten more companies had applied for land.

"The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority is developing the infrastructure and it has been decided to secure SEZ status to benefit the units," she said.

The companies would invest Rs 200 crore, providing employment to 13,000 people.

She said land had been allotted to major companies such as HSBC, Satyam Computers, Wipro and TCS here at other places.

"The HSBC call centre is functioning. Satyam has already started work and other companies will also start operations. We have ambitious plans to develop Vizag as the number one among the two-tier cities for IT companies," she said.

An IT incubation centre was also being set up here for the first generation entrepreneurs, she said.

"At present, Vizag accounts for software exports of Rs 70 crore and we have plans to increase it ten-fold by 2009," she added.