Date:22/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022219980100.htm

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12 integrated townships to come up in State

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister discusses McKinsey report with NASSCOM chief

The report envisages creation of 2.3 million jobs in the country

Five towns to be identified for development in the first phase

HOPE FOR THE JOBLESS: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at a meeting with NASSCOM President Kiran Karnik in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday held discussions with Kiran Karnik, President of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), on implementing the McKinsey report for generating one million jobs in the information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors by 2010 and reach the export target of $ 20 billion.

Speaking to presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the report envisages creation of 2.3 million jobs, in all, in the country and taking exports to $ 60 billion in the next five years. For this, he said, 12 integrated townships have to be developed in the State.

The Chief Minister said five towns will be identified for development in the first phase. The McKinsey report envisages a 25 per cent annual growth rate in the two sectors.

Earlier, Mr. Kumaraswamy, who chaired a Cabinet meeting, said the draft of the Governor's address to the joint session of the Legislature has been approved. The Governor will address the six-day session on Friday, the second time this year. Defending the decision to have a second address by the Governor, he said it is required to project the stand of the Government on various policies and programmes.

He said he will request the Ministers for Railways and Civil Aviation to expedite the pending projects in the State. The Finance Department will release the State's share of funds for the railway projects.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the suspension of 39 Janata Dal (S) MLAs, including himself, will have no impact on the Government. They are ready to face a vote in the Assembly on the motion of thanks to the Governor as they have the required majority.