Date:04/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/04/stories/2007020404030600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ten more IT centres this year, says YSR

Correspondent

Priority for Tier-II cities; Kakinada STPI centre inaugurated

KAKINADA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced here on Saturday that 10 more software technology parks would be established in the State this year on the lines of the one in Kakinada with priority being given to Tier-II cities.

Inaugurating the incubation centre of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the first of its kind in the Godavari region, in the Collectorate compound, he asked Minister for Information Technology Sabita Indra Reddy and officials of her department to ensure early establishment of these new IT centres. This facility is the result of the joint effort of the STPI and the Department of IT and Communication. The 14,000 sq.ft. Godavari IT hub provides `plug and play' mode of office built-up space. As an anchor IT company, M/s Infotech Enterprises, has already taken 7,000 sq.ft. of space and will provide employment to 120 engineers by March. Expressing confidence that the IT industry would generate large-scale employment to cater to the global demand, he said over 70,000 graduates were passing out of 270 engineering colleges and another two lakh graduates from degree colleges. Assuring the State Government's support for the development of the IT industry, Dr. Reddy said that 60 acres of land and a separate special economic zone (SEZ) would be provided to the STPI here. He lauded the efforts of Union Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallam Raju for obtaining sanction for the STPI and for his keen interest in providing good avenues for engineering graduates in the region. The Chief Minister explained as to how the Jawahar knowledge Centres (JKCs), which he described as the `last mile linkage', were enriching students with the soft skills required for employment.